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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 0-11936
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LAFARGE CORPORATION
(Exact name of Company as specified in its charter)
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<S> <C>
MARYLAND 58-1290226
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
11130 SUNRISE VALLEY DRIVE, 20191
SUITE 300, RESTON, VIRGINIA (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
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COMPANY'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (703) 264-3600
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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TITLE OF EACH CLASS NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
------------------- -----------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
The Toronto Stock Exchange
Montreal Exchange
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
TITLES OF CLASS
------
None
Indicate by check mark whether the Company (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Company
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ].
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulations S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to
the best of Company's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [X]
State the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates
of the Company at March 6, 1998:
$1,198,707,615
Indicate the number of shares of each of the Company's classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date.
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<CAPTION>
CLASS OUTSTANDING AT MARCH 6, 1998
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<S> <C>
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share 71,780,028 shares (including 6,154,501
Exchangeable Preference Shares of
Lafarge Canada Inc.)
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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
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PART OF FORM 10-K INTO WHICH THE
DOCUMENT DOCUMENT IS INCORPORATED
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<S> <C>
Proxy Statement dated Part III
March 23, 1998
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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Lafarge Corporation (the "Company"), a Maryland corporation, is engaged in the
production and sale of cement and ready-mixed concrete, aggregates, asphalt,
concrete blocks and pipes, precast and prestressed concrete components,
reinforcing steel and gypsum wallboard in the United States and Canada. The
Company believes that it is one of the largest producers of cement and
construction materials in North America. The Company is also engaged in road
building and other construction using many of its own products. Its
wholly-owned subsidiary, Systech Environmental Corporation ("Systech"),
processes fuel-quality waste and alternative raw materials for use in cement
kilns. The Company's Canadian operations are carried out by Lafarge Canada Inc.
("LCI"), a major operating subsidiary of the Company. Lafarge S.A., a French
corporation, and certain of its affiliates own a majority of the Company's
outstanding voting securities. The terms "Company", "LCI" and "Systech", as
used in this Annual Report, include not only Lafarge Corporation, Lafarge Canada
Inc. and Systech Environmental Corporation, respectively, but also their
subsidiaries and predecessors, unless the context indicates otherwise.
The Company manufactures and sells various types of portland cement, which is
widely used in most types of residential, institutional, commercial and
industrial construction. The Company also manufactures and sells a variety of
specialty cements and cementitious materials. At December 31, 1997 the Company
operated 14 full-production cement manufacturing plants with a combined rated
annual clinker production capacity of approximately 11.7 million tons and two
cement grinding facilities. The Company sells cement primarily to manufacturers
of ready-mixed concrete and other concrete products and to contractors
throughout Canada and in many areas of the United States. During 1997 the
Company's cement operations accounted for 52 percent of consolidated net sales,
after the elimination of intracompany sales, and 73 percent of consolidated
income from operations.
Management believes that LCI is the largest producer of concrete-related
building materials in Canada, where 83 percent of the Company's construction
materials facilities were located at December 31, 1997. The U.S. construction
materials operations are located primarily in Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The Company's
significant construction materials activities include the manufacture and sale
of ready-mixed concrete, construction aggregates, other concrete products and
asphalt and road construction. The Company has operations at approximately 400
locations including ready-mixed concrete plants, crushed stone and sand and
gravel sites, and concrete product and asphalt plants. During 1997 the
Company's construction materials operations accounted for 43 percent of
consolidated net sales, after the elimination of intracompany sales, and
23 percent of consolidated income from operations.
In September 1996 the Company entered the gypsum wallboard business by acquiring
two manufacturing plants located in Buchanan, New York and Wilmington, Delaware.
The Company manufactures and sells a full line of gypsum wallboard products
including moisture resistant and fire rated wallboard in a variety of
dimensions. Gypsum wallboard is used in residential and commercial construction
as well as remodeling and repair. At December 31, 1997 the two manufacturing
plants had a combined rated annual capacity of 700 million square feet (MSF) of
wallboard. The Company sells gypsum wallboard products primarily to residential
and commercial building materials dealers and individual and regional/national
gypsum distributors. During 1997 the Company's gypsum
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wallboard operations accounted for 5 percent of consolidated net sales, after
the elimination of intracompany sales, and 4 percent of consolidated income
from operations.
At December 31, 1997 Systech operated five facilities at cement plants in the
U.S., including three plants that are owned by the Company. Systech processed
approximately 56 million gallons of fuel-quality waste in 1997. Systech's
results of operations are included in the results of the Company's cement
operations. In August 1997 the owner of one cement plant which was using
fuel-quality waste supplied by Systech stopped using this waste. The impact of
this change on the Company was not material.
No single unaffiliated customer accounted for more than 10 percent of the
Company's consolidated sales during 1997, 1996 or 1995.
The executive offices of the Company are located at 11130 Sunrise Valley Drive,
Suite 300, Reston, Virginia 20191, and its telephone number is (703) 264-3600.
(A) GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS
In 1970 Lafarge Coppee (now Lafarge S.A.) acquired control of Canada Cement
Lafarge Ltd. (now LCI) which was Canada's largest cement producer. In 1974 LCI
extended its cement manufacturing operations into the United States through a
joint venture which operated three cement plants in the United States. Following
the termination of the joint venture in 1977, the Company (which was
incorporated in Maryland in 1977 under the name Citadel Cement Corporation of
Maryland) operated two of these U.S. cement plants. In 1981 a subsidiary of the
Company acquired the common stock of General Portland Inc. ("General Portland"),
the second largest cement producer in the U.S. In 1983 a corporate
reorganization was effected which established the Company as the parent company
of LCI and General Portland (General Portland was merged into the Company in
1988), and the Company's name was changed to Lafarge Corporation. In 1986 the
Company purchased substantially all the assets of National Gypsum Company's
Huron Cement Division, consisting of one cement plant, 13 cement terminals and
related distribution facilities around the Great Lakes. Also in 1986 the
Company acquired Systech. During 1989, 1990 and 1991, the Company significantly
expanded its U.S. construction materials operations through acquisitions, the
largest of which included 32 plant facilities in five states and substantial
mineral reserves acquired from Standard Slag Holding Company headquartered in
Ohio. The Company acquired Missouri Portland Cement Company, Davenport Cement
Company and certain related companies and assets in 1991. This acquisition
included three cement plants and 15 cement distribution terminals located in the
Mississippi River Basin, more than 30 ready-mixed concrete and aggregate
operations and the assets of a chemical admixtures business. In September 1996
the Company acquired two gypsum wallboard manufacturing plants located in
Buchanan, New York, and Wilmington, Delaware, and created a new division,
Lafarge Gypsum.
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PENDING ACQUISITIONS
On March 17, 1998, the Company announced that it will purchase a number of
construction materials businesses in North America from Lafarge S.A., its
majority shareholder. The Company's Board of Directors voted to accept the
recommendation of a committee of independent directors that the Company acquire
the businesses of Denver-based Western Mobile Inc.; Redland Genstar Inc. of
Towson, Maryland; and Redland Quarries Inc. of Hamilton, Ontario. Lafarge S.A.
took control of these operations late last year when it acquired the British
construction materials firm Redland PLC. The purchase price to be paid is $690
million.
The acquisition, which is subject to meeting certain regulatory and
administrative requirements, will increase the Company's annual sales volumes of
construction aggregates by about 75 percent to approximately 75 million tons. It
will also expand the Company's ready-mixed concrete sales volumes in North
America by a third to nearly 10 million cubic yards and will add more than 6
million tons of asphalt sales annually. The 125 operations being acquired
posted combined revenues of more than $520 million in 1997.
Western Mobile Inc. is Colorado's leading supplier of aggregates, concrete and
highway paving services. The company has 1,700 employees in 95 locations in
Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. Redland Genstar Inc. operates in 14 Maryland
counties and holds leading market positions in each of its main business lines
of aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt and paving. The company employs
850 people who predominately serve the residential, commercial and road building
sectors in the Washington, DC - Baltimore corridor. Redland Quarries Inc.
operates aggregate and asphalt businesses in southern Ontario and western New
York. The company has about 270 employees.
In December 1997, the Company announced that it was in discussions with Holnam,
Inc. to acquire its cement plant in Seattle, Washington and related assets
including a limestone quarry on Texada Island, British Columbia and two cement
terminals. In February 1998, the Company and Holnam, Inc. entered into a letter
of intent regarding the foregoing transaction. Closing on the acquisition is
subject to due diligence, regulatory approvals and execution of a definitive
asset purchase agreement.
RECENT SIGNIFICANT DIVESTMENTS
In January 1995 the Company sold its 65 percent interest in a Texas aggregate
operation for approximately $12.7 million in cash.
In December 1994 the Company sold 29 Texas ready-mixed concrete plants and five
related sand and gravel plants for approximately $32.6 million in cash.
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In September 1994 the Company sold its Balcones cement plant in Texas, three
cement terminals and an equity interest in an aggregate and asphalt company in
Houston, Texas for approximately $95.8 million in cash, excluding working
capital, and the repayment of $7.4 million of debt to the Company.
(B) FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT INDUSTRY SEGMENTS
The Company's operations are closely integrated. The Company's single business
segment is construction materials which includes the production and sale of
cement and ready-mixed concrete, aggregates, asphalt, concrete blocks and pipes,
precast and prestressed concrete components, reinforcing steel and gypsum
wallboard. In addition, the Company is engaged in road building and other
construction utilizing many of its own products. Its subsidiary, Systech,
processes fuel-quality waste and alternative raw materials for use in cement
kilns. Financial information with respect to the Company's product lines and
geographic segments is set forth under Item 7 - Management's Discussion of
Income on pages II-3 through II-19, Management's Discussion of Cash Flows on
pages II-20 through II-21 and Item 8 - Consolidated Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data on pages II-45 and II-46 of this Annual Report.
The Company's business is affected significantly by seasonal variations in
weather conditions. Information with respect to quarterly financial results is
set forth in Item 8 page II-53 of this Annual Report.
(C) NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
CEMENT PRODUCT LINE
The Company manufactures and sells in Canada (through its subsidiary LCI) and in
the United States various types of portland cement, a basic construction
material manufactured principally from limestone and clay or shale. Portland
cement is the essential binding ingredient in concrete, which is widely used in
most types of residential, institutional, commercial and industrial
construction. In addition to normal portland cement, the Company manufactures
and sells a variety of specialty cements, such as high early strength, moderate
heat of hydration, sulfate resistant, silica fume, masonry and oilwell cement.
At December 31, 1997 the rated annual clinker production capacity of the
Company's operating cement manufacturing plants was approximately 11.7 million
tons with about 5.2 million tons in Canada and 6.5 million tons in the United
States. The Canadian Portland Cement Association's "Plant Information Summary
Report" which was prepared as of December 31, 1996 shows that LCI's capacity is
the largest of the cement companies in Canada and represented approximately 35
percent of the total active industry clinker production capacity in that
country. A similar report for the U.S. prepared as of December 31, 1996 shows
that the Company's operating cement manufacturing plants in the United States
accounted for an estimated 8 percent of total U.S. active industry clinker
production capacity.
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Cement Plants
The following table indicates the location, types of process and rated annual
clinker production capacity (based on management's estimates) of each of the
Company's operating cement manufacturing plants at December 31, 1997. The total
clinker production of a cement plant might be less than its rated capacity due
principally to product demand and seasonal factors. Generally, a plant's cement
production capacity is greater than its clinker production capacity.
Rated Annual Clinker Production Capacity of
Cement Manufacturing Plants
(In short tons) *
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United States Plants Canadian Plants
- ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
Location Process Clinker Location Process Clinker
- -------- ------- --------- -------- ----------- ---------
Capacity Capacity
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paulding, OH Wet 471,200 Brookfield, N.S. Dry 517,700
Fredonia, KS Wet 376,200 St. Constant, QUE Dry 1,046,200
Whitehall, PA Dry *** 718,600 Bath, ONT Dry *** 1,121,700
Alpena, MI Dry 2,275,500 Woodstock, ONT Wet 561,400
Davenport, IA Dry ** 943,500 Exshaw, ALTA Dry ** 1,185,500
Sugar Creek, MO Dry 517,500 Kamloops, B.C. Dry 211,700
Joppa, IL Dry *** 1,172,900 Richmond, B.C. Wet 558,100
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Total Capacity 6,475,400 Total Capacity 5,202,300
========= =========
Total 1997 clinker production 6,106,400 Total 1997 clinker production 4,293,000
========= =========
1997 production as a percentage 1997 production as a percentage
of total capacity 94% of total capacity 82%
========= =========
</TABLE>
* One short ton equals 2,000 pounds.
** Preheater, pre-calciner plants. The capacity of Exshaw's preheater,
pre-calciner kiln is 65 percent of the plant's clinker production capacity.
*** Preheater plants. The capacity of Joppa's preheater kiln is 55 percent of
the plant's clinker production capacity.
All of the Company's cement plants are fully equipped with raw grinding mills,
kilns, finish grinding mills, environmental protective dust collection systems
and storage facilities. Each plant has facilities for shipping by rail and by
truck. The Richmond, Alpena, Bath, Davenport, Sugar Creek and Joppa plants have
facilities for transportation by water. The Exshaw plant and the Kamloops
limestone and cinerite quarries are located on sites leased on a long-term
basis. The Company owns all other plant sites. The Company believes that each
of its producing plants is in satisfactory operating condition.
At December 31, 1997, the Company owned cement grinding plants for the
processing of clinker into cement at Fort Whyte, Manitoba; Edmonton, Alberta;
Montreal East, Quebec; Superior, Wisconsin and Port Manatee and Tampa, Florida.
The Fort Whyte grinding plant was shutdown in 1994; furthermore, the Edmonton,
Montreal East and Superior grinding plants have been shutdown for
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several years as cement grinding has not been cost effective at these
locations. These plants were used during 1997 for the storage of cement. The
Port Manatee and Tampa plants include facilities for receiving clinker and
cement by water. The Company owns clinker producing plants which have been
shutdown in Havelock, New Brunswick and Fort Whyte, Manitoba.
The Manufacturing Process
The Company manufactures cement by a closely controlled chemical process which
begins with the crushing and mixing of calcium carbonates, argillaceous material
(clay, shale or kaolin), silicates (sand) and iron-rich materials. Once mixed,
the crushed raw materials undergo a grinding process, which mixes the various
materials more thoroughly and increases fineness in preparation for the kiln.
This mixing and grinding process may be done by either the wet or the dry
process. In the wet process, the materials are mixed with water to form
"slurry", which is heated in kilns, forming a hard substance called "clinker".
In the more fuel-efficient dry process, the addition of water and the formation
of slurry are eliminated, and clinker is formed by heating the dry raw
materials. In the preheater process, which provides further fuel efficiencies,
the dry raw materials are preheated by air exiting the kiln, and part of the
chemical reaction takes place prior to entry of the materials into the kiln. In
the pre-calciner process, an extension of the preheater process, heat is applied
to the raw materials, increasing the proportion of the chemical reaction taking
place prior to the kiln and, as a result, increasing clinker production
capacity. After the addition of gypsum, the clinker is ground into an extremely
fine powder called portland cement. In this form, cement is the binding agent
which, when mixed with sand, stone or other aggregates and water, produces
either concrete or mortar.
The raw materials required to manufacture cement are obtained principally from
operations which are owned by the Company or in which it has long-term quarrying
rights. These sources are located close to the manufacturing plants except for
the Joppa and Richmond quarries which are located approximately 70 and 80 miles,
respectively, from the plant site. Quarried materials are delivered to Joppa and
Richmond by barge. Each cement manufacturing plant is equipped with rock
crushing equipment. At Richmond, the Company owns the reserves, but does not
currently quarry them. The Company purchases limestone for Richmond from a
local source. At Joppa, the Company owns the reserves, but leases the
quarrying rights and purchases limestone from the lessee. At Whitehall and
Kamloops the Company sub-contracts the quarry operations.
Fuel represents a significant portion of the cost of manufacturing cement. The
Company has placed special emphasis on becoming, and has become, more efficient
in its sourcing and use of fuel. Dry process plants generally consume
significantly less fuel per ton of output than do wet process plants. At
December 31, 1997 approximately 82 percent and 87 percent of the Company's
clinker production capacity in Canada and the United States, respectively, used
the dry process.
As an additional means of reducing energy costs, most plants are now equipped to
convert from one form of fuel to another with very little interruption in
production, thus avoiding dependence on a single fuel and permitting the Company
to take advantage of price variations between fuels.
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The use of fuel-quality waste supplied by Systech has also resulted in
substantial fuel cost savings to the Company. At December 31, 1997 the Company
used fuel-quality waste materials obtained and processed by Systech as fuel at
three of the Company's United States cement plants. Fuel-quality waste supplied
by Systech constituted approximately 9 percent of the fuel used by the Company
in all of its cement operations during 1997.
The Company's three U.S. cement plants which utilize fuel-quality waste are
subject to emission limits and other requirements under the Federal Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Boiler and Industrial Furnaces (BIF)
regulations. See pages II-15 through II-19 of Item 7 of this Annual Report for
further discussion regarding the RCRA and BIF regulations.
The following table shows the possible alternative fuel sources of the Company's
cement manufacturing plants in the United States and Canada at December 31,
1997.
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PLANT LOCATION FUELS
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United States:
Paulding, Ohio................ Coal, Coke, Fuel-Quality Waste
Fredonia, Kansas.............. Coal, Fuel-Quality Waste, Natural Gas, Coke
Whitehall, Pennsylvania....... Coal, Oil, Coke, Tire Derived Fuel
Alpena, Michigan.............. Coal, Coke, Fuel-Quality Waste, Natural Gas
Davenport, Iowa............... Coal, Coke
Sugar Creek, Missouri......... Coal, Coke, Natural Gas
Joppa, Illinois............... Coal, Coke, Natural Gas
Canada:
Brookfield, Nova Scotia....... Coal, Oil, Fuel-Quality Waste
St. Constant, Quebec.......... Natural Gas, Oil, Coke, Pitch Fuel, Tire
Derived Fuel
Bath, Ontario................. Natural Gas, Coke, Coal
Woodstock, Ontario............ Natural Gas, Coal, Coke, Oil
Exshaw, Alberta............... Natural Gas
Kamloops, British Columbia.... Natural Gas, Coal, Coke
Richmond, British Columbia.... Natural Gas, Coke, Coal Tailings, Bio Gas
</TABLE>
Marketing
Cement is sold by the Company primarily to manufacturers of ready-mixed concrete
and other concrete products and to contractors throughout Canada and in many
areas of the United States. The states in which the Company had the most
significant U.S. sales in 1997 were Florida and Michigan. Other states in which
the Company had significant sales include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey,
New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Washington.
The provinces in Canada in which the Company had the most significant sales of
cement products were Ontario and Alberta, which together accounted for
approximately 48 percent of the Company's total Canadian cement shipments in
1997. Other provinces in which the Company had significant sales include
British Columbia and Quebec. Approximately 34 percent of the Company's cement
shipments in Canada were made to affiliates.
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The Company sells cement to several thousand unaffiliated customers. Sales are
made on the basis of competitive prices in each market area, generally pursuant
to telephone orders from customers who purchase quantities sufficient for their
immediate requirements. The amount of backlog orders, as measured by written
contracts, is normally not significant.
At December 31, 1997 sales offices in the United States were located in Buffalo,
New York; Port Manatee, Florida; Whitehall, Pennsylvania; Maumee, Ohio; Lansing,
Michigan; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Seattle and Spokane, Washington; Kansas City,
Missouri; Davenport, Iowa; Valley City, Bismarck and Grand Forks, North Dakota;
Nashville, Tennessee and Georgetown, Texas.
At December 31, 1997 sales offices in Canada were located in Moncton, New
Brunswick; Quebec City and Montreal, Quebec; Richmond Hill, Ontario; Winnipeg,
Manitoba; Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Edmonton, Alberta; and Kamloops
and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Distribution and storage facilities are maintained at all cement manufacturing
and finishing plants and at approximately 84 other locations including four deep
water ocean terminals. These facilities are strategically located to extend the
marketing areas of each plant. Because of freight costs, most cement is sold
within a radius of 250 miles from the producing plant, except for waterborne
shipments which can be economically shipped considerably greater distances.
Cement is distributed primarily in bulk but also in paper bags.
The Company utilizes trucks, rail cars and waterborne vessels to transport
cement from its plants to distribution facilities or directly to customers.
Transportation equipment is owned, leased or contracted as required. In
addition, some customers in the United States make their own transportation
arrangements and take delivery of cement at the manufacturing plant or
distribution facility.
Systech Environmental Corporation processes fuel-quality waste and alternative
raw materials for use in cement kilns. Using a technology called co-processing,
Systech provides high BTU value waste as a fuel substitute for coal, natural gas
and petroleum coke in heating the cement kiln. Co-processing preserves natural
resources and serves as a safe and efficient method to manage selected waste.
In addition, co-processing makes the cement plant more competitive by reducing
fuel cost, which represents about 15 percent of cement manufacturing cost.
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS PRODUCT LINE
The Company is engaged in the production and sale of ready-mixed concrete,
aggregates, asphalt, concrete blocks and pipes, precast and prestressed concrete
components and other related products. The Company is also engaged in highway
and municipal paving and road building.
LCI is the only producer of ready-mixed concrete and construction aggregates in
Canada that has operations extending from coast to coast. Ready-mixed concrete
plants mix controlled portions of cement, water and aggregates to form concrete
which is sold primarily to building contractors and delivered to construction
sites by mixer trucks. In addition, management believes that LCI is one of the
largest manufacturers of precast concrete products and concrete pipe in Canada.
These products
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are sold primarily to contractors engaged in all phases of construction
activity. The Company owns substantially all of its ready-mixed concrete,
concrete products and aggregates plants and believes that all such plants are
in satisfactory operating condition.
The Company owned or had a majority interest in 354 construction materials
facilities in Canada at December 31, 1997. Of these, 138 are ready-mixed
concrete plants concentrated in the provinces of Ontario (where approximately 46
percent of the plants are located), Alberta, Quebec and British Columbia. The
Company also owns ready-mixed concrete plants in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Company owns 134 construction aggregates
facilities in Canada, approximately 41 percent of which are located in Ontario.
The other aggregates facilities are located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British
Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The Company's 30
Canadian asphalt facilities are also concentrated primarily in Ontario with the
remaining plants in Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec. The Company
owns a total of 52 precast and prestressed concrete, concrete block and concrete
pipe plants and miscellaneous other construction materials operations in Ontario
(where approximately 42 percent of the plants are located), Alberta, British
Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
In the U.S., the Company owned or had a majority interest in 75 construction
materials facilities at December 31, 1997. Of these, 40 are ready-mixed
concrete plants located and with similar concentrations in Missouri, Louisiana
and Wisconsin, and to a lesser extent in Kansas. Of the Company's 29 U.S.
construction aggregates facilities, 14 are in Ohio, 7 in Missouri, with the
remainder located in Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The
Company owns a total of 6 concrete paving stone, trucking and miscellaneous
other construction materials operations located in Michigan, Missouri,
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
In addition, the Company has minority interests in a number of smaller companies
primarily engaged in the production and sale of ready-mixed concrete, other
concrete products and aggregates in Canada and the U.S.
GYPSUM WALLBOARD PRODUCT LINE
The Company manufactures and sells in the United States a full line of gypsum
wallboard products which includes moisture resistant and fire rated wallboard in
a variety of dimensions. Gypsum wallboard's primary uses are for fire
protection, sound insulation and aesthetic appeal. The primary drivers of demand
are new residential and commercial construction, and repair and remodeling.
Wallboard Plants
At December 31, 1997 the Company owned two gypsum wallboard manufacturing plants
with a combined rated annual production capacity of approximately 700 million
square feet (MSF). The Buchanan, New York plant has a rated capacity of 330
MSF. The Company's Wilmington, Delaware plant has a rated capacity of 370 MSF.
Both plants are fueled primarily by natural gas with #2 fuel oil as backup.
Natural gas is purchased on a contract basis with transportation negotiated
under long-term contracts. The Wilmington facility is located at the Port of
Wilmington. The site is leased through the year 2000. Management has entered
into discussions with the Port Authority to extend the lease
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agreement. The Company owns the Buchanan plant site. The Company believes that
each of its manufacturing plants is in satisfactory operating condition.
The Manufacturing Process
Gypsum is the common term for calcium sulfate dihydrate. The water molecules are
physically locked inside the crystal structure of the gypsum molecule. Gypsum,
the major raw material required to manufacture wallboard, is obtained from a
third party.
Gypsum rock is first fed into a dryer, where surface moisture is removed. Then
it is ground to a flour-like consistency known as land plaster. The land plaster
is then calcined, or heated, into calcium sulfate hemihydrate, also known as
stucco. Gypsum is unique because it is the only mineral that can be calcined,
and yet go back to its original state when rehydrated. It is this property that
is being exploited in the manufacturing process.
The stucco is blended with water and other ingredients in a mixer to form a
slurry. This slurry is then extruded between two continuous sheets of paper at
the forming station. The extended product travels down a long line in order to
give the stucco molecules time to rehydrate and recrystallize into gypsum. As it
travels, the gypsum crystals grow into each other and into the liner paper,
giving the product 3-dimensional strength. When the product has achieved initial
"set" or firmness (approximately 3 minutes), the product is cut into lengths.
The individual boards are then dried in a kiln to remove excess water. The
boards are packaged face to face and stored until ready for shipment.
Marketing
The Company's gypsum wallboard products are sold to a variety of residential and
commercial building materials dealers, individual and regional/national gypsum
distributors, original equipment manufacturers, building materials distribution
companies, lumber yards and "Do-It-Yourself" home centers. The Buchanan, New
York plant's principal markets include New York and New Jersey. The Wilmington,
Delaware plant's largest markets are Pennsylvania and North Carolina followed
closely by Maryland and Virginia. Sales are made on the basis of competitive
prices in each market area, generally pursuant to telephone orders from
customers who purchase quantities sufficient for their requirements. Customer
orders are taken at each plant site. The amount of back-log orders, as measured
by written contracts, is normally not significant.
The Company utilizes contracted trucks to transport finished gypsum board to
distributors and other customers. Additionally, Wilmington is fully equipped to
ship by rail. The Buchanan plant is in close proximity to its key markets
resulting in over 90 percent of its production being shipped within 100-200
miles of the plant. The Wilmington plant ships over 50 percent of its production
within 200 miles of the plant.
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING
The Company is involved in research and development through its own technical
services laboratories and through its participation in the Portland Cement
Association. In addition, Lafarge S.A., LCI and
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<PAGE> 12
the Company are parties to agreements relating to the exchange of technical and
management expertise under which the Company has access to the research and
development resources of Lafarge S.A. Research is directed toward improvement
of existing technology in the manufacturing of cement, concrete, wallboard and
related products as well as the development of new manufacturing techniques and
products. Systech is also engaged in research and development in an effort to
further develop the technology to handle additional waste materials. Research
and development costs, which are charged to expense as incurred, were $7.2
million, $6.3 million and $6.6 million for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
This includes amounts accrued for technical services rendered by Lafarge S.A.
to the Company, under the terms of the agreements discussed above, of $6.3
million during 1997, $5.7 million during 1996 and $5.5 million during 1995.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND ASSET DISPOSITIONS
The Company's business is relatively capital-intensive. During the three-year
period ended December 31, 1997 the Company's capital expenditures were
approximately $371 million, principally for the modernization or replacement of
existing equipment. Of this amount, approximately 62 percent related to cement
operations, 37 percent to construction materials operations and 1 percent to
gypsum operations. During the same period, the Company also invested
approximately $122 million in various acquisitions that expanded its market and
product lines. Of this amount, approximately 52 percent related to gypsum
operations, 31 percent to construction materials and 17 percent to cement
operations.
In September 1996 the Company acquired G-P Gypsum Corporation's (a subsidiary of
Georgia Pacific Corporation) gypsum wallboard manufacturing plants in Buchanan,
New York and Wilmington, Delaware. In January 1996 the Company acquired the
remaining interest in Tews Company, a ready-mixed concrete and building
materials supplier located in the greater Milwaukee area. In August 1996 the
Company formed a joint venture, Innocon, with another major concrete supplier to
carry on its ready-mixed concrete business in the greater Toronto, Ontario area.
Innocon is a 50/50 joint venture which owns six ready-mixed concrete facilities
that are strategically located in this market. In May 1995 the Company
purchased all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of National Portland
Cement Company which operated a grinding plant in Port Manatee, Florida. In
April 1995 the Company acquired the Grey Stone cement terminal in Wilder,
Kentucky and in September 1994 the Company acquired the Red Rock Cement terminal
in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In May 1996 the Company sold a sand and gravel operation located in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. In August 1996 the Company sold Cement terminals in Wilder,
Kentucky and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1995 the Indianapolis, Indiana
terminal facility was closed.
See General Development of Business - "Recent Significant Divestments" for a
discussion on the sale of certain significant nonstrategic assets. During 1997,
1996 and 1995, the Company disposed of various surplus properties, none of which
were material.
I-11
<PAGE> 13
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
The Company's operations, like those of other companies in similar businesses,
involve the use, release/discharge, disposal and clean-up of substances
regulated under increasingly stringent federal, state, provincial and/or local
environmental protection laws. The major environmental statutes and
regulations affecting the Company's business and the status of certain
environmental enforcement matters involving the Company are discussed in Item 7
of this Annual Report in the "Environmental Matters" section of Management's
Discussion and Analysis beginning on page II-15. Additionally, certain
enforcement matters are described in Item 3 (Legal Proceedings) of this Annual
Report.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 1997, the Company and its subsidiaries employed 7,300
individuals of which 4,430 were hourly employees. Approximately 1,000 of
these hourly employees were engaged in the Company's cement and waste
management operations, 3,270 were employed in the construction materials
operations and 160 were employed in the gypsum wallboard operations. Salaried
employees totaled 2,870. These employees generally perform work in
administrative, managerial, marketing, professional and technical endeavors.
Overall, the Company considers its relations with employees to be satisfactory.
- - U.S. Cement Operations
The majority of the Company's 551 U.S. hourly employees are represented by labor
unions. During 1997 labor agreements were negotiated at the Whitehall,
Pennsylvania and Paulding, Ohio cement plants and at the Tampa, Florida cement
grinding facility. During 1998 labor agreements will expire at the Paulding,
Ohio and Sugar Creek, Missouri cement plants and the Saginaw, Michigan; Detroit,
Michigan and Buffalo, New York distribution terminals. The Company expects the
agreements to be successfully concluded without work stoppages.
- - U. S. Construction Materials Operations
The Company's 993 U.S. construction materials employees consist of 719 hourly
employees and 274 salaried employees. During 1997 the Company acquired two
aggregate operations in eastern Missouri and closed or sold certain
construction operations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In the U.S., approximately 75 percent of the hourly workforce is covered by 18
collective bargaining agreements with six major labor unions. During 1997 nine
collective bargaining and benefit agreements were successfully negotiated with
union bargaining groups without a work stoppage. In Missouri the Teamsters
organized three of the Company's non-union plants. The Company's final proposal
for an initial collective bargaining and benefit agreement was rejected by the
union in September 1997. The employees at the three plants conducted a four day
strike during the first week of September and returned to work without an
agreement. Operations continue at these three facilities without an agreement
and any further work interruption. A federal mediator is involved in the
negotiations and no further discussions have been scheduled. In 1998 five labor
and benefit agreements will expire. One agreement was successfully negotiated
in January 1998 and the remaining agreements are expected to be successfully
negotiated without a work stoppage.
I-12
<PAGE> 14
- - Canadian Cement Operations
Substantially all of the 452 Canadian cement hourly employees are covered by
labor agreements. The Exshaw, Alberta cement plant agreement expired at the end
of 1997 and was renegotiated for a four year term without a work stoppage.
Additionally, in 1997 the Woodstock, Ontario cement plant agreement was renewed
for three years; the St-Constant, Quebec cement plant agreement was renewed for
five years; the Toronto, Ontario distribution terminal agreement was renewed for
two years and the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan terminal agreement was renegotiated
for three years. In 1998 agreements will expire at the Bath, Ontario and
Brookfield, Nova Scotia cement plants as well as the Montreal East, Quebec and
Winnipeg, Manitoba distribution terminals. These agreements are expected to be
renewed without a work stoppage.
- - Canadian Construction Materials Operations
Employees in the Canadian construction materials operations totaled 3,379 at the
end of 1997 with 2,552 hourly employees and 827 salaried employees.
In eastern Canada, hourly employees are covered by 68 collective bargaining
agreements with a number of unions. There are 38 non-union business units in
which discussions are held directly with employees. During 1997 31 collective
bargaining agreements were renegotiated with union bargaining agents, incurring
a work stoppage at one location of five days. Twenty-eight collective
bargaining agreements will expire during 1998 throughout eastern Canada and are
expected to be successfully concluded without a work stoppage.
In western Canada, there are 33 collective bargaining agreements with several
different unions. Six agreements are through employer associations. One
ready-mixed concrete operation was de-certified by the employees. During 1997
eight collective labor agreements were renegotiated without a work stoppage.
The Company continues to negotiate eight agreements that expired at or near the
end of 1997, with no work stoppages anticipated. During 1998 15 collective
labor agreements will expire. These agreements are expected to be renewed
without a work stoppage.
- - Gypsum Wallboard Operations
Substantially all of the 160 gypsum wallboard hourly employees are covered by
labor agreements. There are four local labor agreements with two unions. Three
of the labor agreements are in the final year of a six year contract. These
agreements are expected to be renewed without a work stoppage. The other
agreement is in the third year of a six year contract. The Buchanan and
Wilmington plants have no recent history of labor disputes.
COMPETITION
The competitive marketing radius of a typical cement plant for common types of
cement is approximately 250 miles except for waterborne shipments which can be
economically transported considerably greater distances. Cement, concrete
products, aggregates and construction services and gypsum wallboard are sold in
competitive markets. These products and services are obtainable from
I-13
<PAGE> 15
alternate suppliers. Vigorous price, service and quality competition is
encountered in each of the Company's primary marketing areas.
The Company's operating cement plants located in Canada represented an estimated
35 percent of the rated annual active clinker production capacity of all
Canadian cement plants at December 31, 1996. The Company is the only cement
producer serving all regions of Canada. The Company's largest competitor in
Canada accounted for approximately 20 percent of rated annual active clinker
production capacity. The Company's operating cement plants located in the
United States at December 31, 1996 represented an estimated 8 percent of the
rated annual active clinker production capacity of all U.S. cement plants. The
Company's three largest competitors in the United States accounted for 14, 7 and
6 percent, respectively, of the rated annual active clinker production capacity.
The preceding statements regarding the Company's ranking and competitive
position in the cement industry are based on the U.S. and Canadian Portland
Cement Industry: "Plant Information Summary Report" which was prepared as of
December 31, 1996.
(D) FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC OPERATIONS AND
EXPORT SALES
The information with respect to foreign and domestic operations and export sales
is set forth on pages II-45 and II-46 of Item 8 - Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data of this Annual Report and is incorporated herein by
reference.
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<PAGE> 16
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
The following tabulation sets forth as of March 27, 1998 the name and age of
each of the executive officers of the Company and indicates all positions and
offices with the Company held by them at said date.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Position Age
- ---------------------- ----------------------------- -----
<S> <C> <C>
Bertrand P. Collomb Chairman of the Board 55
Bernard L. Kasriel Vice Chairman of the Board 51
John M. Piecuch President and Chief 49
Executive Officer
Edward T. Balfe Executive Vice President and 56
President - Construction
Materials Group
Duncan S. Gage Executive Vice President and 48
President - U.S. Cement
Operations
Peter H. Cooke Executive Vice President and 49
President - Canadian Cement
Operations
Larry J. Waisanen Executive Vice President and 47
Chief Financial Officer
Michael J. Balchunas Senior Vice President and 50
President - Western Cement
Region
Alain Bouruet-Aubertot Senior Vice President and 41
President - Lafarge Gypsum
Division
Patrick Demars Senior Vice President - 49
Corporate Technical Services
Guillaume Roux Senior Vice President - 38
Planning and Marketing
Thomas W. Tatum Senior Vice President - 60
Human Resources
John C. Porter Vice President and Controller 59
David C. Jones Vice President - Legal 56
Affairs and Secretary
David W. Carroll Vice President - Environment 51
and Government Affairs
Kevin C. Grant Vice President and Treasurer 42
</TABLE>
I-15
<PAGE> 17
Bertrand P. Collomb was appointed to his current position in January 1989. He
has also served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge
S.A. since August 1, 1989. From January 1, 1989 to August 1, 1989 he was Vice
Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer of Lafarge S.A., and from 1987
until January 1, 1989 he was Senior Executive Vice President of Lafarge S.A. He
served as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
from February 1987 to January 1989.
Bernard L. Kasriel was elected to his current position in May 1996. He has also
served as Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Lafarge S.A. since
January 1995. Prior to that he served as Managing Director of Lafarge S.A. from
1989 to 1994, Senior Executive Vice President of Lafarge S.A. from 1987 to 1989
and Executive Vice President of Lafarge S.A. from 1982 until 1987.
John M. Piecuch was appointed to his current position effective October 1, 1996.
He previously served as Group Executive Vice President of Lafarge S.A. from July
1994 until October 1996. He served as Senior Executive Vice President of the
Company from 1992 to June 1994 and as Executive Vice President of the Company
from 1989 to 1992.
Edward T. Balfe was appointed to his current position in July 1994. Prior to
that he served as Senior Vice President of the Construction Materials Group. He
served as President of the Company's Construction Materials Eastern Region and
President and General Manager of Permanent Lafarge, a construction materials
affiliate of the Company, from 1990 to 1993.
Duncan S. Gage was elected to his current position effective March 1, 1996.
From October 1994 to February 1996 he was Senior Vice President and President of
the Company's U.S. Cement Region. He previously served as Senior Vice President
- - Planning and Development from January 1994 to September 1994.
Peter H. Cooke was elected to his current position effective March 1, 1996. He
previously served as Senior Vice President and President of the Company's
Eastern Cement Region from July 1990 to February 1996.
Larry J. Waisanen was appointed to his current position effective February 10,
1998. He previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of the Company from January 1996 to February 1998. He served as Assistant
General Manager of Lafarge S.A.'s interests in Turkey from May 1992 to December
1995. Prior to that he served as Vice President Controller of Lafarge S.A. from
March 1989 to April 1992.
Michael J. Balchunas was appointed to his current position effective July 1,
1996. From March 1992 to July 1996 he was President of Systech Environmental
Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Prior to that he served
as Vice President of Operations of the Company's Great Lakes Region from July
1990 to March 1992.
Alain Bouruet-Aubertot was appointed to his current position effective September
1, 1996. He served as Senior Vice President of Strategy & Development for
Lafarge Platres, a division of Lafarge S.A., from December 1994 to September
1996. Prior to that, he was Project Director & Business Manager
I-16
<PAGE> 18
for Rhone-Poulenc Chemicals from November 1993 to November 1994 and
Technical/Manufacturing Director for Rhone-Poulenc, Thann & Mulhouse from
January 1992 to October 1993.
Patrick Demars was appointed to his current position effective February 1991.
He previously served as Vice President - Products and Process of the Company's
Corporate Technical Services operations from July 1990 to January 1991. He was
a Regional Vice President at CNCP, a Brazilian subsidiary of Lafarge S.A., from
July 1986 to June 1990.
Guillaume Roux was appointed to his current position effective February 1, 1996.
From May 1994 to January 1996 he served as Deputy General Manager of Clause
Semences, a former subsidiary of Lafarge S.A. Prior to that, he served as a
Vice President in the Lafarge S.A. Finance Department from November 1992 to May
1994. He was Chief Financial Officer of Harris Moran Seeds Company, a former
subsidiary of Lafarge S.A., from May 1989 to November 1992.
Thomas W. Tatum was appointed to his current position in April 1987.
John C. Porter was appointed to his current position in September 1990. He
served as Vice President and Controller of the Company's Great Lakes Region from
April 1989 until September 1990.
David C. Jones was appointed to his current position in February 1990. He
served as Corporate Secretary of the Company from November 1987 to February
1990.
David W. Carroll was appointed to his current position in February 1992. He
served as Director Environmental Affairs of the Company from February 1990 to
February 1992. Prior to that he was Director Environmental Programs for the
Chemical Manufacturers Association from 1978 to 1990.
Kevin C. Grant was appointed to his current position effective February 10,
1998. He previously served as Treasurer of the Company from June 1995 to
February 1998. He served as Vice President - Human Resources Development from
June 1994 to June 1995. He also was Sales Manager from June 1992 to June 1994
and Manager of Strategic Studies from June 1991 to June 1992 for Lafarge Fondu
International, a subsidiary of Lafarge S.A.
There is no family relationship between any of the executive officers of the
Company or its subsidiaries. None was selected as an officer pursuant to any
arrangement or understanding between him and any other person. The term of
office for each executive officer of the Company expires on the date of the next
annual meeting of the Board of Directors, scheduled to be held on May 5, 1998.
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<PAGE> 19
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Information set forth in Item 1 of this Annual Report, insofar as it relates to
the location and general character of the principal plants, mineral reserves and
other significant physical properties owned in fee or leased by the Company, is
incorporated herein by reference in answer to this Item 2.
All of the Company's cement plant sites (active and closed) and quarries (active
and closed), as well as terminals, grinding plants, gypsum wallboard plants and
miscellaneous properties, are owned by the Company free of major encumbrances,
except the Exshaw cement plant, the Kamloops limestone and cinerite quarries,
and the Wilmington gypsum wallboard plant.
The Exshaw plant is built on land leased from the province of Alberta. The
original lease has been renewed for a 42-year term commencing in 1992. Annual
payments under the lease are presently based on a fixed fee per acre.
The Kamloops plant, as well as the gypsum quarry which serves this plant, is on
land owned by the Company. The limestone and cinerite quarries are on land
leased from the province of British Columbia until March 2022.
The Wilmington gypsum wallboard facility is located at the Port of Wilmington,
Delaware. The site is leased from Diamond State Port Corporation, an entity of
the Delaware Department of Transportation. The lease expires at the end of the
year 2000. Management has entered into discussions with the Port Authority to
extend the lease agreement.
Limestone quarry sites for the cement manufacturing plants in the United States
are owned and are conveniently located near each plant except for the Joppa
plant quarry which is located approximately 70 miles from the plant site.
LCI's quarrying rights for limestone used by cement manufacturing plants in the
Canadian provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia
are held under quarry leases, some of which require annual royalty payments to
the provincial authorities. Management of the Company estimates that limestone
reserves for the cement plants currently producing clinker will be adequate to
permit production at present capacities for at least 20 years. Other raw
materials, such as clay, shale, sandstone and gypsum are either obtained from
reserves owned by the Company or are purchased from suppliers and are readily
available.
Deposits of raw materials for the Company's aggregate producing plants are
located on or near the plant sites. These deposits are either owned by the
Company or leased upon terms which permit orderly mining of reserves.
I-18
<PAGE> 20
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Since 1992, a number of owners of buildings located in eastern Ontario, Canada,
most of whom are residential homeowners, filed actions in the Ontario Court
(General Division) against Bertrand & Frere Construction Company Limited
(Bertrand) and a number of other defendants seeking damages as a result of
allegedly defective footings, foundations and floors made with ready-mixed
concrete supplied by Bertrand. There are presently approximately 168 plaintiffs
whose claims involve 104 foundations, which are embodied in ten lawsuits. In
two of these actions, the plaintiffs have added LCI as a party defendant; in the
others, LCI is either a third or fourth party. The damages claimed total more
than Cdn. $62 million. In the largest of these actions, approximately 119
plaintiffs are complaining about 81 basement foundations, including a 20-unit
condominium, and claiming approximately Cdn. $51.7 million, each plaintiff
seeking Cdn. $200,000 for costs of repairs and loss of capital value of their
respective home or building, Cdn. $200,000 for punitive and exemplary damages
and Cdn. $20,000 for hardship, inconvenience and mental distress, together with
interest and costs. LCI has also been served with cross-claims or third or
fourth party claims by Bertrand in the referenced lawsuits. Bertrand is seeking
indemnity for its liability to the owners as a result of the supply by LCI of
allegedly defective flyash. Bertrand amended its claims to allege that the
cement supplied by LCI is also defective. In 1995, the Ontario New Home
Warranty Program instituted a lawsuit against Bertrand, LCI and certain other
defendants to recover approximately Cdn. $3 million in costs for replacing or
repairing the foundations of 29 houses which were covered under the warranty
program. The amount of LCI's liability, if any, is uncertain. LCI has denied
liability and is defending the lawsuits vigorously. It has introduced third and
fourth party claims against its insurers to have the insurance coverage issues
dealt with by the Court at the same time as the liability case. The Company
believes it has substantial insurance coverage that will respond to defense
expenses and liability, if any, in the lawsuits. Trial on this matter convened
in early September 1997 and is expected to continue through the second quarter
of 1998.
In late August 1996 the Company, among others, was served with original
petitions from two sets of plaintiffs in two similar lawsuits brought in state
courts in Starr and Duval Counties, Texas. In the first suit, approximately 180
plaintiffs sued approximately 170 defendants involved in the production,
transportation and use of cement, concrete, additives, sand and gravel alleging
that these materials contain toxic substances, that the plaintiffs were exposed
to the toxic substances in their work areas where they breathe the fumes, inhale
the particles and absorb the materials from them which caused injury to their
respiratory and nervous systems and brain damage. The plaintiffs claim
negligence, gross negligence, and products and strict liability and seek, among
other things, both past and future damages, exemplary damages and cost of the
suit in an unspecified amount. In the second suit, approximately 70 plaintiffs
sued approximately 225 defendants alleging claims similar to those contained in
the first suit with an added claim that plaintiffs suffered exposure to
defendants' toxic substances in their homes. While the amount of liability, if
any, to the Company is uncertain, the Company filed general denials to both
suits in late October 1996 and is vigorously defending the lawsuits. Although
significant discovery and venue issues have been decided, plaintiffs have filed
motions in both cases seeking recusal of the presiding judge, this has
effectively stayed all progress in both cases pending resolution of the motions.
I-19
<PAGE> 21
On March 18, 1998, a shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed in Circuit Court
for Montgomery County, Maryland against all of the directors of the Company
alleging breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste, and gross negligence in
connection with the Company's planned purchase of a number of construction
materials businesses in North America from Lafarge S.A., its majority
shareholder (the "Transaction"). Lafarge S.A. took control of these businesses
in late 1997 when it acquired the British construction materials firm Redland
PLC. See "Item 1. Business - Pending Acquisitions" of this Annual Report for
additional information regarding the Transaction. A special committee of
independent directors of the Company's Board of Directors was appointed to
evaluate the Transaction. Based upon extensive due diligence and the advice of
independent professionals retained by the special committee, including an
investment banking firm which advised the committee regarding the fairness of
the price and terms of the proposed Transaction, the special committee
recommended the Transaction for approval by the full Board of Directors of the
Company. On March 16, 1998, the full Board, consisting of a majority of
independent directors, approved the Transaction and the Company publicly
announced the Transaction on March 17, 1998. The Company has been advised that
the directors believe that the lawsuit against them with respect to the
Transaction is without merit and intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit.
As with many industrial companies in the U.S. and Canada, the Company is
involved in certain environmental enforcement matters where potential penalties
may exceed $100,000. It is the Company's practice to attempt to resolve these
matters with the appropriate governmental authorities by entering into a consent
agreement and/or paying a penalty.
At the Company's Duquesne, Pennsylvania slag processing plant, the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) alleged in a July 2, 1997 notice of
violation, that the Company has failed to comply with certain portions of a 1980
consent order and agreement (COA) with the DEP. This order was entered into by
the prior owners of the plant which the Company acquired in 1989. The cooling
or "quenching" of slag on the site had given rise to large volumes of runoff
water which was determined to create a pollution problem. The 1980 COA required
the construction and operation of a collection and treatment system for all
surface water and drainage leaving the plant site and the submission of a plan
and permit applications therefor by January 1987. However, in 1982, the
quenching process was moved to another site and the water quality at the plant
improved significantly. At that time, the prior owners apparently attempted to
have the COA modified in light of the cessation of quenching at the plant but
they were not successful. Recently, the Company's representatives have been
engaged in discussions with DEP about how to resolve this matter. DEP has
agreed that the COA should be modified in light of changed circumstances, and
negotiations between the Company and the DEP on how to modify the COA are
ongoing.
At the Company's cement plant in Davenport, Iowa plant personnel discovered in
1997, in connection with the permitting process for burning certain plastic
materials in the kiln, that the plant was exceeding its permit limit emissions
of nitrous oxide gas. The Company reported the issue to the Iowa Department of
Environmental Quality (IDEQ), was issued a notice of violation, and has
submitted a proposed permit revision that is being reviewed by IDEQ. The
I-20
<PAGE> 22
Company previously reported that the permit violation may result in a fine
in excess of $100,000; however the IDEQ has reduced the proposed fine to
$60,000.
At the Company's cement plant in Alpena, Michigan, after a change in the mix of
raw materials entering the kiln, plant personnel discovered that the plant was
exceeding its permit limit for emissions of hydrogen chloride gas. The Company
reported the issue to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
A previous consent order entered into by the Company in 1996 provided for a
stipulated penalty if the plant violates any of its permits, which penalty could
exceed $300,000. The Company is engaged in discussions with MDEQ regarding a
proposed civil penalty. Also at the Alpena plant, storm and surface water
runoff has exceeded the plant's water discharge permit with respect to
temperature and suspended particulates. These permit violations may result in a
fine in excess of $100,000. The Company has provided MDEQ new information as
the basis for reducing the amount of a civil penalty.
Lafarge Canada Inc. (LCI) was charged, on July 11, 1997, with violations of the
Fisheries Act as a result of discharge of deleterious substances into the Fraser
River. The incident occurred in March 1997 during a heavy rainstorm at a LCI
Vancouver, British Columbia ready-mixed concrete plant. The extreme rain
conditions overwhelmed the containment and recycling system of the plant
creating a flood situation and safety concerns, necessitating an emergency
release of the pent up waters into the yard and ultimately into the river. LCI
has been charged with violations of the Act and is conducting discussions with
representatives of the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the
Federal Judiciary Department in order to resolve this matter. This violation may
result in a fine in excess of $100,000.
The Company is involved in certain other legal actions and claims. It is the
opinion of management that all legal and environmental matters will be resolved
without material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
I-21
<PAGE> 23
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
None during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 1997.
I-22
<PAGE> 24
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE COMPANY'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
Information required in response to Item 5 is reported in Item 7, pages II-23 of
this Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
On March 6, 1998, 65,625,527 Common Shares were outstanding and held by 2,785
record holders. In addition, on March 6, 1998, 6,154,501 exchangeable
preference shares of LCI, which are exchangeable at the option of the holder
into Common Shares on a one-for-one basis and have rights and privileges that
parallel those of the Common Shares, were outstanding and held by 6,808 record
holders.
The Company may obtain funds required for dividend payments, expenses and
interest payments on its debt from its operations in the U.S., dividends from
its subsidiaries or from external sources, including bank or other borrowings.
II-1
<PAGE> 25
ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The table below summarizes selected financial information for the Company. For
further information, refer to the Company's consolidated financial statements
and notes thereto presented under Item 8 of this Annual Report.
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(in millions except as indicated by an *)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating Results
Net Sales
$1,806.4 $1,649.3 $1,472.2 $1,563.3 $1,494.5
------------------------------------------------
Income Before the Following Items: $ 300.9 $ 236.4 $ 185.4 $ 141.9 $ 70.2
Interest expense, net (6.6) (14.1) (15.2) (28.8) (42.7)
Income taxes (112.3) (81.4) (40.6) (32.5) (21.6)
------------------------------------------------
Net Income 182.0 140.9 129.6 80.6 5.9
Depreciation, depletion and
amortization 106.3 100.5 94.3 103.6 115.0
Other items not affecting cash 47.7 (33.4) (105.6) (36.2) 34.0
------------------------------------------------
Net Cash Provided by Operations $ 336.0 $ 208.0 $ 118.3 $ 148.0 $ 154.9
================================================
Total Assets $1,899.1 $1,813.0 $1,713.9 $1,651.4 $1,687.7
================================================
Financial Condition at Year End
Working capital $ 520.2 $ 394.9 $ 448.6 $ 402.3 $ 315.4
Property, plant and equipment, net 876.7 867.7 797.0 751.9 880.7
Other assets 206.4 213.0 198.3 192.4 221.8
------------------------------------------------
Total Net Assets $1,603.3 $1,475.6 $1,443.9 $1,346.6 $1,417.9
================================================
Long-term debt $ 132.3 $ 161.9 $ 268.6 $ 290.7 $ 373.2
Other long-term liabilities 215.3 203.2 194.3 214.5 253.0
Shareholders' equity 1,255.7 1,110.5 981.0 841.4 791.7
------------------------------------------------
Total Capitalization $1,603.3 $1,475.6 $1,443.9 $1,346.6 $1,417.9
================================================
Common Equity Share Information
Net income - basic* $ 2.56 $ 2.02 $ 1.89 $ 1.19 $ 0.10
Net income - diluted* $ 2.54 $ 1.95 $ 1.82 $ 1.18 $ 0.10
Dividends* $ 0.42 $ 0.40 $ 0.375 $ 0.30 $ 0.30
Book value at year end* $ 17.52 $ 15.79 $ 14.17 $ 12.34 $ 11.84
Average shares and equivalents
outstanding 71.1 69.8 68.7 67.7 61.1
Shares outstanding at year end 71.7 70.4 69.2 68.2 66.9
================================================
Statistical Data
Capital expenditures $ 124.0 $ 124.8 $ 121.9 $ 95.4 $ 58.4
Acquisitions $ 8.8 $ 83.5 $ 29.3 $ 4.7 $ 15.2
Net income as a percentage of net
sales* 10.1% 8.5% 8.8% 5.2% 0.4%
Return on average shareholders'
equity* 15.4% 13.5% 14.2% 9.9% 0.8%
Long-term debt as a percentage of
total capitalization* 8.3% 11.0% 18.6% 21.6% 26.3%
Number of employees at year end* 7,300 6,800 6,600 6,500 7,400
Exchange rate at year end (Cdn.
to U.S.)* 0.699 0.730 0.733 0.713 0.755
Average exchange rate for year
(Cdn. to U.S.)* 0.722 0.733 0.729 0.732 0.775
================================================
</TABLE>
II-2
<PAGE> 26
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto:
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION OF INCOME
The Consolidated Statements of Income (Item 8, page II-28) summarize the
Company's operating performance for the past three years. To facilitate
analysis, sales and operating profit are discussed by product line and are
summarized in the table on page II-4 (in millions).
The Company's three product lines are:
Cement - the production and distribution of portland and specialty cements and
cementitious materials, and the processing of fuel-quality waste and alternative
raw materials for use in cement kilns.
Construction materials - the production and distribution of ready-mixed
concrete, construction aggregates, other concrete products, and the construction
and paving of roads.
Gypsum wallboard - the production and distribution of gypsum wallboard and
related products.
Product line results for 1996 and 1995 have been restated to reflect the
reclassification of fuel-quality waste and alternative raw materials from
Construction materials to Cement.
II-3
<PAGE> 27
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31
-----------------------------
1997 1996 1995
-----------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net Sales
Cement $1,050.5 $ 996.2 $ 928.0
Construction materials 785.4 750.0 651.8
Gypsum 92.1 24.0 --
Eliminations (121.6) (120.9) (107.6)
-----------------------------
Total Net Sales $1,806.4 $1,649.3 $1,472.2
=============================
Gross Profit
Cement $ 329.9 $ 291.2 $ 252.7
Construction materials 119.8 101.5 70.2
Gypsum 21.5 4.7 --
-----------------------------
Total 471.2 397.4 322.9
-----------------------------
Operational Overhead and
Other Expenses
Cement (71.1) (66.3) (66.9)
Construction materials (39.8) (41.6) (36.1)
Gypsum (8.3) (2.3) --
-----------------------------
Total (119.2) (110.2) (103.0)
-----------------------------
Income From Operations
Cement 258.8 224.9 185.8
Construction materials 80.0 59.9 34.1
Gypsum 13.2 2.4 --
-----------------------------
Total Operating Profit 352.0 287.2 219.9
Corporate and unallocated expenses (51.1) (50.8) (34.5)
-----------------------------
Total Income From Operations $ 300.9 $ 236.4 $ 185.4
=============================
Identifiable Assets
Cement $ 795.2 $ 777.0 $ 793.0
Construction materials 579.6 615.6 565.2
Gypsum 71.8 70.7 --
Corporate and unallocated assets 452.5 349.7 355.7
-----------------------------
Total Assets $1,899.1 $1,813.0 $1,713.9
=============================
</TABLE>
II-4
<PAGE> 28
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
NET SALES
The Company's net sales increased 10 percent in 1997 to $1,806.4 million from
$1,649.3 million in 1996. Canadian net sales were $769.5 million, up 9 percent.
U.S. net sales increased 10 percent to $1,036.9 million. The improvement in
both Canada and the U.S. was primarily due to increased product shipments,
higher cement and ready-mixed concrete prices, and the Company's gypsum
wallboard operations which in its first full year of operation (acquired
September 1996) added $92.1 million of sales in the U.S.
Net sales from the Company's cement operations were $1,050.5 million, an
increase of 5 percent due to higher shipments and prices. Cement sales volumes
escalated 2 percent to 12.9 million tons, while net realization (delivered price
per ton to customer less freight) increased 4 percent. U.S. net sales increased
4 percent reflecting continued high levels of infrastructure spending and paving
work as well as strength in both the residential and nonresidential sectors.
Cement shipments advanced 1 percent as most major markets posted gains. Net
realization increased 4 percent. In Canada, net sales were 10 percent higher.
Cement shipments and net realization (excluding exchange rate fluctuation)
increased 6 percent and 4 percent, respectively. In eastern Canada, cement
sales volumes declined 2 percent; however, net realization increased 3 percent.
Higher shipments in Ontario (13 percent) due to an increase in residential and
commercial construction were offset by declines in Quebec (weak economic
conditions) and in the Atlantic provinces due to higher shipments in 1996 to the
Confederation Bridge project which was completed in early 1997. In western
Canada, cement shipments were 17 percent higher reflecting gains in all major
markets except British Columbia. Substantially higher shipments in the Prairie
provinces (up 31 percent) because of strong housing starts and higher spending
levels in the oil and gas and farming sectors more than offset a 3 percent
decline in British Columbia (softening of demand).
The Company's net sales from construction materials operations were $785.4
million, a 5 percent increase. The improvement was attributed to higher
ready-mixed concrete and aggregate shipments and increased ready-mixed concrete
prices partially offset by the divestment at mid-year of the Quebec construction
operation. Ready-mixed concrete and aggregate volumes both climbed 7 percent.
Ready-mixed concrete shipments reached 7.4 million cubic yards in 1997 while
aggregate volumes rose to 43.1 million tons. In Canada, net sales increased 7
percent reflecting the higher volumes and ready-mixed concrete prices in western
Canada. Ready-mixed concrete sales volumes increased 11 percent. In eastern
Canada, sales volumes were 4 percent higher because of increased demand in
Ontario partially offset by lower shipments in Quebec (weak economic conditions)
and completion of the Confederation Bridge project in the Canadian Maritimes.
In the west, higher demand in the Prairie provinces (shipments up 42 percent)
pushed ready-mixed concrete sales volumes 17 percent higher, offsetting 7
percent lower shipments in British Columbia due to a softening of demand.
Aggregate volumes increased 14 percent mainly due to an improving economy in
Ontario and the high level of activity throughout western Canada, offset
somewhat by declines in the Atlantic provinces and Quebec. In the U.S., net
sales declined 1 percent. Ready-mixed sales volumes increased slightly (1
percent) as all major markets posted gains except Milwaukee where shipments
dropped 10 percent due to a slowdown
II-5
<PAGE> 29
in the residential construction sector. Aggregate shipments declined 6 percent
reflecting the divestment in early 1996 of a sand and gravel operation in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the negative impact of a workers' strike at the Mingo,
Ohio plant of a raw materials supplier which was settled in July, and the
termination of operations at a plant in Cleveland, Ohio. These declines were
partially offset by aggregate shipments of approximately .4 million tons from an
April 1997 acquisition in Kansas City, Missouri and a 6 percent increase in the
Milwaukee division due to higher external sales.
Net sales from the Company's gypsum operations were $92.1 million. Strong market
demand in the residential and commercial construction sectors led to strong
pricing as well as higher volumes. Wallboard shipments totaled 705 million
square feet, with both plants achieving record production levels.
GROSS PROFIT AND COST OF GOODS SOLD
The Company's gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 26 percent
from 24 percent in 1996. Cement gross profit was 31 percent compared to 29
percent. The improvement was the result of higher volumes and prices as well as
a 1 percent reduction in cash costs (excluding depreciation) per ton.
Construction materials gross profit increased by 2 percentage points to 15
percent. Higher ready-mixed concrete and aggregate volumes, coupled with higher
ready-mixed concrete prices in the U.S. and western Canada, were partially
offset by lower aggregate prices and increased material costs. Operating costs
were lower in eastern Canada, and the U.S. Ready-mixed concrete operations
gross profit per cubic yard rose 10 percent while aggregate operations gross
profit per ton improved 8 percent. The gross profit for gypsum wallboard was 23
percent, up 3 percent.
The Company's cement cost per ton is heavily influenced by plant capacity
utilization. The following table summarizes the Company's cement production (in
millions of tons) and the clinker production capacity utilization rate:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
-----------------------
1997 1996
-----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cement production 12.15 11.54
Clinker capacity
utilization 89% 85%
=======================
</TABLE>
Cement production was 5 percent higher than 1996. U.S. production totaled 7.4
million tons, up 5 percent. Clinker capacity utilization at U.S. plants
increased to 94 percent from 91 percent. The improvement was due to higher
production at a majority of the Company's U.S. cement plants as four plants
established clinker production records. However, the Company experienced
manufacturing setbacks at two U.S. plants which required higher purchases of
clinker to replace lost production. Canadian cement production was 4.7 million
tons, up 7 percent. Canadian clinker capacity utilization increased to 82
percent from 76 percent. These improvements were due to the record-setting
kiln performance at the Exshaw plant in western Canada.
II-6
<PAGE> 30
SELLING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Selling and administrative expenses were $161.0 million in 1997 compared with
$151.4 million in 1996. The increase was mainly due to the full year operation
of the Company's gypsum wallboard business in addition to higher professional
fees. Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales declined
to 8.9 percent in 1997 from 9.2 percent in 1996.
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE, NET
Other income and expense consists of items such as equity income, amortization
of intangibles and gains and losses from divestitures. Other expense, net was
$9.3 million in 1997 compared with $9.6 million in 1996.
PERFORMANCE BY LINE OF BUSINESS
The Company's operating profit from its cement operations (before corporate and
unallocated expenses) was $258.8 million, a $33.9 million improvement. Higher
sales volumes and prices were somewhat offset by higher plant costs and higher
clinker purchases in the U.S. The Company's Canadian operations reported an
operating profit of $100.9 million, $22.4 million better than in 1996 due to a 6
percent increase in cement shipments, 4 percent rise in net realization
(excluding exchange rate fluctuation) and higher prices for exports to U.S.
operations. Cement cash cost per ton was 3 percent lower due mostly to
improvements in operating efficiencies at the Exshaw plant in western Canada.
In the U.S., operating profit was $157.9 million, $11.5 million higher. The
improvement was due to moderately higher shipments (1 percent) and a 4 percent
increase in net realization partly offset by higher plant costs, clinker
purchases (to supplement production) and higher prices for imports from Canadian
operations. Three U.S. cement plants achieved lower cash costs per ton due to
improvements in operating efficiencies.
The Company's operating profit from construction materials operations (before
corporate and unallocated expenses) was $80.0 million, $20.1 million higher than
1996. The improvement was due to higher ready-mixed concrete and aggregate
sales volumes and an increase in ready-mixed concrete prices in the U.S. and
western Canada somewhat offset by higher material costs. The Canadian
operations earned $53.1 million, $15.0 million better, primarily reflecting
higher ready-mixed concrete and aggregate volumes. In eastern Canada, higher
shipments in Ontario, lower operating costs and increased prices in the Atlantic
provinces were partly offset by a slow Quebec economy and lower shipments in the
Canadian Maritimes due to completion of the Confederation Bridge project.
Earnings in the west were up because of increased demand in the Prairie
provinces and higher ready-mixed concrete prices somewhat offset by higher
material and operating costs. U.S. operations earned $26.9 million, $5.1
million better due to a 4 percent improvement in ready-mixed concrete prices and
lower operating costs resulting from specific cost reduction initiatives
implemented during 1996 and 1997. As a result of these actions ready-mixed
concrete and aggregate operating costs were lower by 3 percent and 7 percent,
respectively. These improvements were partially offset by a 6 percent reduction
in aggregate volumes.
II-7
<PAGE> 31
The Company's gypsum wallboard operations reported an operating profit of $13.2
million due to the strength of the U.S. commercial and residential construction
sectors, favorable pricing environment and record setting production at both
plants.
TOTAL INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
In 1997 total income from operations was $300.9 million, $64.5 million better
which reflects better results in all Company operations. The gypsum wallboard
operations contributed $13.2 million in its first full year of operation.
Operating profit from Canadian operations was $136.3 million, $31.6 million
better. The operating profit in the U.S. was $164.6 million, $32.9 million
better.
INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest expense decreased by $4.2 million in 1997 mainly due to lower average
debt. Interest capitalized was $1.4 million and $1.2 million in 1997 and 1996,
respectively.
INTEREST INCOME
Interest income increased $3.2 million in 1997 due to higher levels of
short-term investments throughout the year.
INCOME TAXES
Income tax expense increased from $81.5 million in 1996 to $112.3 million in
1997. Income taxes increased due to higher profits in the U.S. and Canada. The
Company's effective income tax rate was 38.2 percent in 1997 and 36.6 percent in
1996.
NET INCOME
The Company reported net income of $182.0 million in 1997 compared to 1996
income of $140.9 million. The improvement resulted from higher volumes in all
of the Company's product lines, higher cement and ready-mixed concrete prices
and lower net interest expense. These increases were partially offset by higher
cement plant costs, increases in U.S. clinker purchases, higher materials costs
in construction materials and increased selling and administrative expenses.
II-8
<PAGE> 32
GENERAL OUTLOOK
Certain sections of this document include "forward-looking" statements based
upon current expectations that involve a number of business risks and
uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the statements are based upon
reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance as to future results. The
factors that could cause results to differ materially include, but are not
limited to, national and regional economic conditions, levels of construction
spending in major markets, supply/demand structure of the industry, unfavorable
weather conditions during peak construction periods, and changes in
environmental regulations.
In 1998 the North American construction industry is expected to remain strong.
In the U.S., the Commerce Department estimates a 1.4 percent increase in total
construction put in place. This is in line with other construction industry
forecasts. The favorable supply/demand situation should continue in the U.S.
In Canada, interest rates declined to a 40-year low at one point during 1997 as
the federal government and several provinces continued to reduce or eliminate
their deficits.
The U.S. Portland Cement Association is forecasting a modest drop in cement
consumption in 1998; however, the Company's U.S. cement operations expect
shipments to remain fairly stable with prices improving moderately. The
Canadian Portland Cement Association predicts that Canadian cement consumption
should increase in all regions of the country. As a result, shipments and
prices in the Company's Canadian cement operations are expected to increase.
In the Company's construction materials operations, the outlook for 1998 is
positive. In Canada, with economic conditions and interest rates remaining
favorable, construction spending is anticipated to rise. In the U.S. markets,
the Company expects little growth in volumes but greater savings from cost
efficiencies and better pricing.
The outlook for 1998 in the Company's gypsum wallboard operations is positive
because of the continued high level of residential and commercial construction
activity that is expected.
II-9
<PAGE> 33
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
In the second quarter of 1995 the Company reached an agreement with Revenue
Canada Taxation related to the pricing of certain cement sales between its
operations in Canada and the U.S. for the years 1984 through 1994. The
agreement resulted in an increase in net sales and pre-tax income of U.S. $30.1
million in Canada with corresponding adjustments in the U.S. Also because of
this agreement, during the third quarter of 1996 the Company recorded a U.S.
$13.7 million adjustment for 1995. However, the impact of these adjustments on
consolidated net income was immaterial. Management's Discussion and Analysis
that follows excludes the impact of this agreement (except for the discussion on
income taxes).
NET SALES
The Company's net sales increased 12 percent in 1996 to $1,649.3 million from
$1,472.2 million in 1995. Canadian net sales were $706.4 million, up 7 percent,
while U.S. net sales increased 16 percent to $942.9 million. The improvement in
both Canada and the U.S. was primarily due to increased product shipments and
improved prices as well as the effect of acquisitions (in late 1995 and early
1996) in the construction materials operations. The purchase of two gypsum
wallboard plants in September 1996 also increased U.S. net sales.
The Company's net sales from cement operations were $996.2 million, an increase
of 7 percent due to higher shipments and prices. Cement sales volumes climbed
3.5 percent to 12.6 million tons, while net realization (delivered price per ton
to customer less freight) increased 4 percent from 1995 reflecting increases in
all three geographic regions served by the Company. Canadian net sales increased
8 percent mainly due to a 3 percent improvement in average selling prices
(excluding exchange rate fluctuation) coupled with a 5 percent rise in
shipments. In eastern Canada, cement sales volumes rose 2 percent due to higher
sales in the Atlantic provinces resulting from shipments to the Confederation
Bridge project. In Ontario, shipments were flat; however, in the last six
months of 1996, volumes rose 16 percent compared with those of the prior year.
Quebec showed a slight improvement in shipments of 1 percent. Net realization
increased 4 percent due to a 6 percent and a 7 percent improvement in Ontario
and Quebec, respectively, partially offset by a 2 percent decline in the
Atlantic provinces due primarily to product and customer mix. Cement shipments
in western Canada were up 9 percent as all major markets posted increases, led
by Alberta (up 13 percent). Construction activity in the Prairie provinces was
positively impacted by a bumper grain harvest, healthy oil drilling activity and
demand from the mining sector. In British Columbia, sales volumes increased 7
percent as the economy showed steady improvement during 1996. In addition, the
region benefited from a work stoppage at a competitor's concrete operation. In
the U.S., net sales were 7 percent higher. Cement shipments and net realization
increased 3 percent and 4 percent, respectively. Shipments increased despite
weak activity in the Northeast, the divestment of two cement terminals on the
Ohio River and a brief labor disruption on vessels that distribute the Company's
products on the Great Lakes.
Net sales from the Company's construction materials operations were $750.0
million, up 15 percent from 1995. The improvement was achieved by higher
ready-mixed concrete and aggregate shipments and an increase in ready-mixed
concrete prices in the U.S. From continuing
II-10
<PAGE> 34
operations, ready-mixed concrete volumes increased 16 percent to 6.9 million
cubic yards and aggregate volumes climbed 4 percent to 40.1 million tons. In
Canada, ready-mixed concrete volumes increased 19 percent reflecting improved
economic activity, particularly in Ontario, coupled with the impact of
acquisitions in western Canada. Shipments to the Confederation Bridge project
in the Atlantic provinces were also higher. Aggregate volumes increased 7
percent mainly from strong shipments in Ontario and throughout western Canada.
These increases were offset by an 18 percent decline in Quebec. Net sales in
Canada were 7 percent higher, primarily reflecting higher volumes. Net sales in
the U.S. increased 41 percent, mostly due to acquisitions and higher ready-mixed
concrete prices. Ready-mixed concrete shipments from continuing operations
increased 10 percent due to higher shipments in the New Orleans market because
of acquisitions. These increases were partially offset by a decline in St.
Louis that was due to the restructuring of operations to strengthen the
competitive position in the market. From continuing operations, aggregate
shipments declined 2 percent mostly due to the divestment, in early 1996, of a
sand and gravel operation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Net sales from the Company's gypsum operations that were acquired in September
1996 were $24.0 million. Strong demand for wallboard kept the newly acquired
plants operating at capacity.
GROSS PROFIT AND COST OF GOODS SOLD
The Company's gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 24 percent
in 1996 from 22 percent in 1995. Cement gross profit improved 2 percentage
points to 29 percent because both volumes and prices improved. Construction
materials gross profit increased by 2 percentage points to 13 percent as a
result of higher ready-mixed concrete and aggregate volumes, higher ready-mixed
concrete prices in the U.S. and lower operating costs. The gross profit margin
for gypsum wallboard was 20 percent.
The Company's cement cost per ton is heavily influenced by plant capacity
utilization. The following table summarizes the Company's cement production
from continuing operations (in millions of tons) and the clinker production
capacity utilization rate:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
------------------------
1996 1995
------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cement production 11.54 11.01
Clinker capacity
utilization 85% 90%
========================
</TABLE>
Cement production increased 5 percent over 1995. U.S. production totaled 7.1
million tons, a 10 percent increase. Clinker capacity utilization at U.S.
plants was 91 percent in 1996 compared to 90 percent in 1995. In 1995
manufacturing setbacks at some U.S. plants necessitated higher purchases of
cement and clinker to replace lost production. Canadian cement production was
4.4 million tons, a 3 percent decrease from 1995. Clinker capacity utilization
in Canada fell to 76 percent in 1996 from 90 percent in 1995 primarily due to
the planned extension of kiln shutdowns at four plants because of high inventory
levels at December 31, 1995.
II-11
<PAGE> 35
SELLING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Selling and administrative expenses were $151.4 million in 1996 compared to
$141.1 million in 1995. The increase resulted mainly from acquisitions coupled
with higher professional fees. Selling and administrative expenses as a
percentage of net sales declined to 9.2 percent in 1996 from 9.6 percent in
1995.
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE, NET
Other income and expense consists of items such as equity income, amortization
of intangibles and gains and losses from divestitures. Other expense, net was
$9.6 million in 1996 compared with income of $3.5 million in 1995. The change
primarily reflects lower gains from the sale of nonstrategic assets.
RESTRUCTURING
During 1996 and 1995 the Company spent $2.3 million and $4.6 million,
respectively, which was charged to the previously provided restructuring
accrual. The restructuring, which resulted in the separation of approximately
300 employees since inception of the plan, was completed in 1996. The savings
from the restructuring (mostly from the termination of employees), after
reduction for savings related to operations that have been divested, totaled
approximately $20 million pre-tax in 1996. This reduction is in line with
management's original expectations.
PERFORMANCE BY LINE OF BUSINESS
The Company's operating profit from cement operations (before corporate and
unallocated expenses) was $224.9 million, $39.1 million higher than in 1995.
Results were better primarily due to higher sales volumes and prices and lower
imports to supplement production at clinker producing plants in the Company's
U.S. market. Operating profit from Canadian operations was $78.5 million, $15.0
million better than 1995. The improvement was due to a 5 percent increase in
cement shipments, a 4 percent escalation in net realization (excluding exchange
rate fluctuation) and higher prices for exports to U.S. operations. Partially
offsetting these improvements were planned reductions in clinker production due
to high inventory levels at December 31, 1995, and higher fuel costs at the
Exshaw and Richmond plants in western Canada. The Company's U.S. operations
reported an operating profit of $146.4 million, a $24.1 million increase from
1995's profit due to an increase in shipments and prices and lower imports to
supplement production. This improvement was somewhat offset by higher prices
for imports from Canadian operations.
The Company's operating profit from construction materials operations (before
corporate and unallocated expenses) was $59.9 million, $25.8 million better than
1995. The improvement was achieved by higher ready-mixed concrete and aggregate
sales volumes, an increase in ready-mixed concrete prices in the U.S., lower
operating costs and lower expenses related to the implementation of a new
financial reporting and management information system. The Company's Canadian
operations contributed $38.1 million, up $16.6 million. Market conditions in
the second half of the year improved. Ready-mixed concrete and aggregate
volumes were
II-12
<PAGE> 36
higher and operating costs were lower due to specific cost reduction actions
implemented in each region. U.S. operations earned $21.8 million compared to
$12.6 million in 1995. Earnings improved in all markets, particularly in the
Midwest which was hampered in 1995 by flooding. Results were boosted by higher
ready-mixed concrete prices, lower operating costs, acquisition of the remaining
interest in a ready-mixed concrete and building materials supplier, and other
late 1995 and 1996 acquisitions.
The Company's recently acquired gypsum wallboard operations reported an
operating profit of $2.4 million. Earnings were greater than expected due to
favorable market conditions.
TOTAL INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
The 1996 total income from operations was $236.4 million, $51.0 million better
than 1995. All of the Company's six cement and construction materials regions
reported better results. The recently acquired gypsum wallboard operations
added to operating earnings. Divestment gains were lower. Operating profit from
Canadian operations was $104.7 million, $29.2 million better. The operating
profit from U.S. operations was $131.7 million, $21.8 million better.
INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest expense decreased by $3.0 million in 1996 mainly due to lower average
debt and capitalized interest on construction in progress. Capitalized interest
was $1.2 million and $2.1 million in 1996 and 1995, respectively.
INTEREST INCOME
Interest income declined $1.8 million in 1996 due to lower interest rates.
INCOME TAXES
The following analysis of income taxes includes the impact of the Revenue Canada
Taxation agreement related to the pricing of certain cement sales between the
Company's operations in the U.S. and Canada. Income tax expense increased from
$40.6 million in 1995 to $81.5 million in 1996. In the U.S., taxes were $37.4
million higher due to improved earnings, the absence of a non-recurring credit
recorded in 1995 and the impact of adjustments relative to the Revenue Canada
Taxation agreement. In the third quarter of 1995, the U.S. tax provision was
lowered by $23.0 million due to a reduction of the valuation allowance recorded
in 1992 against the Company's U.S. deferred tax assets. In Canada, taxes
increased $3.5 million due to higher earnings that were mostly offset by the
impact of adjustments relative to the Revenue Canada Taxation agreement. The
Company's effective income tax rate was 36.6 percent in 1996 and 23.8 percent in
1995.
NET INCOME
Net income in 1996 was $140.9 million compared to net income of $129.6 million
in 1995. Excluding the effect of the non-recurring tax credit of $23.0 million
taken in the third quarter of
II-13
<PAGE> 37
1995, earnings in 1996 were $34.3 million better than 1995. The improvement was
mainly due to higher volumes in the Company's major product lines, higher cement
and U.S. ready-mixed concrete prices, lower operating costs in construction
materials operations and lower imports to supplement production in the U.S.
These increases were partially offset by lower divestments gains and lower
clinker production in Canada.
II-14
<PAGE> 38
OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING THE COMPANY
YEAR 2000
Like many companies, the Company has business application software programs that
were developed over the years and computer infrastructure including computerized
devices that could be affected by the "Year 2000" issue. These programs, which
include operational and financial systems, were generally written using two-year
digits to define the applicable year rather than four-year digits. Any of the
programs that have time sensitive software may recognize a date using "00" as
the Year 1900 rather than the Year 2000. This error could result in the computer
shutting down or performing incorrect computations.
The Company has completed an initial Compliance Assessment of the potential
impact of the Year 2000 on computer applications, operating software and
hardware and has developed an implementation plan to resolve the issue. The plan
includes the replacement of certain equipment and modification of certain
software to recognize the turn of the century. The plan is currently expected
to result in estimated non-recurring spending over the next two years of
approximately $9 million to $15 million.
The Company believes, with appropriate replacement or modification, it will be
able to operate its time-sensitive business-application software programs and
infrastructure through the turn of the century.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
The Company's operations, like those of other companies engaged in similar
businesses, involve the use, release, discharge, disposal, and cleanup of
substances regulated under increasingly stringent federal, state, provincial,
and/or local environmental protection laws. Many of the regulations are
technically and legally complex, posing significant compliance challenges. The
Company's environmental compliance program includes an environmental policy and
an environmental ethics policy that are designed to provide corporate direction
for all operations and employees, an environmental audit and follow-up program,
routine compliance oversight of the Company's facilities, environmental guidance
on key issues confronting the Company, routine training and exchange of
information by environmental professionals, an environmental recognition award
program, and routine and emergency reporting systems.
The Company has been and is presently involved in certain environmental
enforcement matters in both the U.S. and Canada. Management's practice is to
attempt to actively resolve such matters with the appropriate government
authorities. In certain circumstances, notwithstanding management's belief that
a particular alleged violation poses no significant threat to the environment,
the Company may decide to resolve such matters by entering into a consent
agreement and/or paying a penalty.
II-15
<PAGE> 39
The Company currently operates three U.S. cement plants using fuel-quality
wastes that are subject to emission limits and other requirements under the
federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Boiler and Industrial
Furnaces (BIF) regulations (Alpena, Michigan; Paulding, Ohio; and Fredonia,
Kansas). The other BIF requirements include a permitting process, extensive
recordkeeping of operational parameters and raw materials and waste-derived
fuels use, demonstration of financial capability to cover future closures and
spill cleanups, and corrective action requirements for other solid waste
management units at the facilities. The Company's three BIF cement plants have
submitted, in a timely manner, formal Part B permit applications, which is the
first step in the permitting process. The Fredonia plant has completed its
trial burn to establish permit limitations to be incorporated into the second
step, the final Part B permit. The Company received a draft of the proposed
Part B permit in December of 1997 and anticipates a public hearing during the
first quarter of 1998. The Paulding plant will be conducting its trial burn in
May 1998; the Alpena plant, in 1999.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of revising its
BIF regulations. Proposed revisions of the BIF regulations were published in
May 1996, citing both RCRA and Clean Air Act authority. The proposal relies
heavily on maximum achievable control technology (MACT) requirements of Title
III of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 in conjunction with the risk-based
authority of RCRA. The proposed standards are based on technologies from a
"pool" of the top 12 environmental performers of existing facilities that use
fuel-quality waste as a supplemental fuel. The Company's Alpena plant was a
MACT pool facility; it uses a baghouse as its primary air pollution control
device. The Paulding plant recently installed a baghouse and is in the process
of installing a bypass system that will likely enable it to meet the final
standards when they are promulgated. The Company has actively participated in
the regulatory process to help formulate revised BIF standards that are
reasonable, cost-effective, and comply with the RCRA and Clean Air Act. In the
past year, EPA has reopened the rulemaking process to solicit public comment on
new data and proposed regulatory approaches, i.e., particulate matter continuous
emission monitoring systems. A final regulation is not anticipated before
December 1998; existing BIF facilities would then have up to three years to meet
the new standards or cease using hazardous waste as a supplemental fuel.
A by-product of many of the Company's cement manufacturing plants is cement kiln
dust (CKD). CKD has been excluded from regulations as a hazardous waste under
the so-called Bevill amendment to the RCRA until the EPA completes a study of
CKD, determines whether it should be regulated as a hazardous waste, and issues
appropriate implementing regulations. In January 1995 the EPA issued a
regulatory determination in which it found that certain CKD management practices
create unacceptable risks that require additional regulation. The EPA
specifically identified the potential for groundwater contamination from CKD
management in karst terrain, fugitive emissions from CKD handling and
management, and surface water/stormwater runoff from CKD management areas. In
March 1995 the Company joined other cement manufacturers in submitting to the
EPA a proposed enforceable agreement for managing CKD. After a lengthy legal
review, the EPA decided that it lacks the legal authority to enter into an
II-16
<PAGE> 40
enforceable agreement. In 1996 the EPA announced that it was recommencing the
process of developing CKD management standards using industry standards as the
technical starting point and Subtitle C of RCRA as its legal authority. The
Company believes it is inappropriate for the EPA to develop CKD standards under
Subtitle C of RCRA. The Company and other cement manufacturers, through their
trade association, have been working with the EPA and various states to develop
an approach for implementation of CKD management standards using state solid
waste authority rather than federal Subtitle C authority.
The EPA has advised that it will likely propose some form of a CKD management
standard in 1998. Should the EPA ultimately proceed to promulgate highly
tailored CKD management standards, the Company is likely to incur additional
capital costs and operational expenses to meet these new standards. In order to
mitigate the longer-term impact of CKD regulation at the federal and/or state
levels, the Company has undertaken a program to assess its management practices
for CKD at operational and inactive facilities in both the U.S. and Canada. The
Company has also been voluntarily taking remedial steps and instituting
management practices consistent with the industry practices for CKD management
as well as assessing and modifying process operations, evaluating and using
alternative raw materials, and implementing new technologies to reduce the
generation of CKD.
As with many industrial companies in the U.S. and Canada, the Company has been
involved in certain remedial actions to clean up or to close certain historical
waste disposal and/or contaminated sites, as required by federal, provincial,
and/or state laws. In addition, the Company has voluntarily initiated cleanup
activities at certain of its properties in order to mitigate long-term liability
exposure and/or to facilitate the sale of such property. The Company routinely
reviews all its active properties, as well as its idle properties, to determine
whether remediation is required, the adequacy of accruals for such remediation,
and the status of all remediations. It has been the Company's experience that,
over time, sites are added to and removed from the remediation list as cleanup
actions are finalized and, where necessary, governmental signoff is obtained, or
when it is determined that no governmental action will be initiated.
The Company is currently involved in two federal Superfund remediations. At one
site the remedial activities are complete, long-term maintenance and monitoring
are underway, partial contribution has been obtained from financially viable
parties and claims against insurance carriers are being pursued. At the other
site, the potentially responsible parties named by the EPA have initiated a
third-party action against some 47 other parties including the Company. The
suit alleges that in 1969 a predecessor company of the Company sold equipment
that may have contained hazardous substances that may now be present at the
site. It appears that the largest disposer of hazardous substances at this site
is the U.S. Department of Defense, and that numerous other large disposers of
hazardous substances are associated with this site. Because this matter relates
to events far in the past by a predecessor entity, and because of the large
number of parties involved in the site, it is difficult to evaluate potential
liability with respect to this site. However, the Company believes that its
ultimate liability will not be material.
II-17
<PAGE> 41
The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 require the EPA to develop air toxics
regulations for a broad spectrum of industrial sectors, including portland
cement manufacturing. New MACT standards are to be established that will
require plants to install the best feasible control equipment for certain
hazardous air pollutants, thereby significantly reducing air emissions. The
Company is actively participating with other cement manufacturers in working
with the EPA to define test protocols, better define the scope of MACT
standards, determine the existence and feasibility of various technologies, and
develop realistic emission limitations and continuous emissions
monitoring/reporting requirements for the cement industry. It is expected that
the EPA will develop proposed standards for existing and new facilities and
publish them for review and public comment by early 1998. Final MACT
regulations are anticipated in 1999 and existing facilities will then have three
years to meet the standards or close down operations. The Company's proposed
new Sugar Creek, Missouri, plant must meet the new MACT standards at the time of
startup. Management believes that several of its plants will likely be required
to upgrade and/or replace existing air pollution control and/or emissions
monitoring equipment as a result of MACT regulations. Management will not be
able to determine the cost of such new equipment until the EPA proposes the MACT
emission standards.
Title V of 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments may potentially result in significant
capital expenditures and operational expenses for the Company. The Clean Air
Act Amendments established a new federal operating permit and fee program for
many manufacturing operations. Under the Act, the Company's U.S. operations
deemed to be "major sources" of air pollution must submit detailed permit
applications and pay recurring permit fees. As part of this process, the
Company's representatives have been discussing permit application requirements
with the respective state agencies having ultimate responsibility for review and
issuance of federal and/or state operating permits. The new permitting
requirements primarily affect the Company's cement manufacturing, gypsum
wallboard and waste-fuel operations. The Company has submitted or will be
submitting applicable permit applications.
In July 1997 the EPA promulgated revisions to two National Ambient Air Quality
Standards under the Clean Air Act ---- particulate matter and photochemical
oxidants (ozone). Because of the nature of the Company's operations, the
proposed addition of a particulate matter standard that will regulate particles
2.5 microns or less in diameter, and the regulation of nitrogen oxides emissions
as the precursor pollutants to ozone, is of potential concern. Implementation
of these new standards will not immediately have an impact on industrial
operations. The first step is a several-year data collection and analysis
activity by the states to determine whether or not the state will be able to
meet the new standards. If a state is unable to demonstrate that it attains the
standards, it will then be required to modify its air quality implementation
plan to describe actions to meet the new standards. This initial phase will
take several years to complete. It is presently unknown whether states in which
the Company operates will be able to meet the new standards, how the states will
modify their implementation plans to demonstrate compliance and/or the ultimate
technology and cost impact on the Company's operations.
II-18
<PAGE> 42
An evolving issue of significance to the Company in the U.S. and Canada is
global climate change, or CO2 stabilization/reduction. In December 1997 the
United Nations held an international convention in Kyoto, Japan to take further
international action to ensure CO2 stabilization and/or reduction after the turn
of the century. The conference agreed to a protocol to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change originally adopted in May 1992. The
protocol establishes quantified emission reduction commitments for certain
developed countries, including the U.S. and Canada, and certain countries that
are undergoing the process of transition to a market economy. These reductions
are to be obtained by 2008-2012. The protocol will be available for signature
by member countries starting in the spring of 1998. The protocol will require
Senate ratification and enactment of implementing legislation before it becomes
effective in the United States. The conference will resume in November 1998 to
continue work on issues not fully resolved in the Kyoto Protocol. The
consequences of CO2 reduction measures for cement producers are potentially
significant because CO2 is generated from combustion of fuels such as coal and
coke in order to generate the high temperatures necessary to manufacture cement
clinker (which is then ground with gypsum to make cement). In addition, CO2 is
generated in the calcining of limestone to make cement clinker. Any imposition
of raw material or production limitations or fuel-use or carbon taxes could have
a significant impact on the cement manufacturing industry. The Canadian cement
industry, including the Company, has entered into a voluntary commitment with
the Canadian government to annually improve energy efficiency 0.7% per ton of
clinker from 1990 to 2000. In the U.S., the Company in 1996 joined the EPA's
Climate Wise program. This voluntary program is geared to promote energy
efficiency in industrial operations and thereby reduce or stabilize the CO2
emissions that result from the generation of electricity. It will not be
possible to determine the impact on the Company until governmental requirements
are defined and/or the Company can determine whether emission offsets and/or
credits are obtainable, and whether alternative cementitious products can be
substituted.
Because of differences between requirements in the U.S. and Canada and the
complexity and uncertainty of existing and future environmental requirements,
permit conditions, costs of new and existing technology, potential remedial
costs and insurance coverages, and/or enforcement-related activities and costs,
it is difficult for management to estimate the ultimate level of Company
expenditures related to environmental matters. While amounts accrued and paid
in the past have not been material, the Company's capital expenditures and
operational expenses for environmental matters have increased and are likely to
increase in the future. The Company cannot determine at this time whether
capital expenditures and other remedial action that the Company may be required
to undertake to comply with the changing environmental protection laws will
materially affect its capital expenditures or earnings. However, with respect
to known environmental contingencies, the Company has recorded provisions for
estimated probable liabilities and does not believe that the ultimate resolution
of such matters will have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
II-19
<PAGE> 43
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION OF CASH FLOWS
The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows summarize the Company's main sources
and uses of cash. These statements show the relationship between the operations
presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income and liquidity and financial
resources depicted in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company's liquidity requirements arise primarily from the funding of its
capital expenditures, working capital needs, debt service obligations and
dividends. The Company has met its operating liquidity needs primarily through
internal generation of cash and expects to do so in the future. However,
because of the seasonality of the Company's business, cash balances decline in
the first two calendar quarters. Short-term borrowings are generally used to
fund seasonal operating requirements.
The net cash provided by operations for each of the three years presented
reflects the Company's net income adjusted for noncash items. Depreciation and
depletion increased in 1997 due to the full year impact of the gypsum wallboard
acquisition and other capital projects completed in 1996 and in 1997.
Depreciation and depletion increased from 1995 to 1996 due to higher capital
spending and acquisitions. Deferred income taxes affected the operating cash
flow primarily because of a 1995 decrease in the valuation allowance and the
1996 and 1997 realization of certain deferred tax assets. The changes in
working capital are discussed in Management's Discussion of Financial Position.
Cash flows from investing consist primarily of capital expenditures and
acquisitions offset by proceeds from property, plant and equipment dispositions.
Capital investments by product line, including acquisitions, were as follows (in
millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
--------------------------
1997 1996 1995
--------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cement $74.2 $74.2 $97.1
Construction
materials 52.4 68.3 53.0
Gypsum 3.3 63.8 --
Other 2.9 2.0 1.1
--------------------------
Total capital
investments $132.8 $208.3 $151.2
==========================
</TABLE>
Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $380 million in 1998. The
Company intends to invest in projects that maintain or improve the performance
of its plants as well as in acquisition opportunities that will enhance the
Company's competitive position in the U.S. and Canada. In September 1996 the
Company acquired G-P Gypsum Corp.'s (a subsidiary of Georgia Pacific
Corporation) gypsum wallboard manufacturing plants in Buchanan, New York, and
Wilmington, Delaware. In October 1995 the Company announced plans to build
cement plants to replace existing facilities in Richmond, British Columbia, and
Sugar Creek, Missouri. The Company projects a capital investment of
approximately $105 million for the Richmond plant, which is
II-20
<PAGE> 44
expected to be completed in 1999. The Sugar Creek plant and a deep limestone
quarry are expected to cost approximately $150 million and to become operational
by 2000.
On March 17, 1998, the Company announced that it will purchase a number of
construction materials businesses from Lafarge S.A., its majority shareholder,
for approximately $690 million in cash. The Company expects to finance the
acquisition with a combination of cash, short-term debt and long-term debt.
Capital spending and dividend requirements are anticipated to be funded by
existing cash and cash flows from operations, supplemented by short-term
borrowings as needed. In August 1996 the Company sold two cement terminals on
the Ohio River and in May 1996 the Company sold a sand and gravel operation in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1995 the Company sold its equity interest in a
Texas aggregate operation. During 1997 and 1996, the Company's proceeds from
the sale of nonstrategic assets, surplus land and other miscellaneous items
totaled $18.9 million and $29.1 million, respectively.
The Company has reduced its net debt by $146.4 million during the three years
ended December 31, 1997. This reduction was the result of improved earnings
from operations, proceeds from the divestment of nonstrategic assets and
moderate levels of capital spending. The reduction of debt in 1997 is mainly
attributable to the retirement of medium-term notes and $50 million of related
party debt. In December 1996 the Company redeemed all the $100 million
outstanding 7% Convertible Debentures dated July 1, 1988. The redemption price
was 101.4% of the principal amount plus accrued interest. As a result of the
redemption, the Company incurred a pretax charge of $2.2 million in the fourth
quarter of 1996 ($1.3 million after taxes).
The Company has access to a wide variety of short-term and long-term financing
alternatives in both the U.S. and Canada and has bilateral revolving credit
facilities with six institutions for total commitments of $150 million. At
December 31, 1997 no amounts were outstanding under these credit facilities.
II-21
<PAGE> 45
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION OF FINANCIAL POSITION
The Consolidated Balance Sheets summarize the Company's financial position at
December 31, 1997 and 1996.
The value reported for Canadian dollar denominated net assets decreased from
December 31, 1996 as a result of a decline in the value of the Canadian dollar
relative to the U.S. dollar. At December 31, 1997 the U.S. dollar equivalent of
a Canadian dollar was $.70 versus $.73 at December 31, 1996.
Working capital, excluding cash, short-term investments, current portion of
long-term debt and the impact of exchange rate changes, decreased $40.4 million
from December 31, 1996 to December 31, 1997. Accounts receivable decreased
$25.9 million primarily due to improved collections, mainly in eastern Canada.
Net property, plant and equipment increased $9.0 million during 1997. The
impact of exchange rate changes was $14.5 million. Depreciation and divestments
were $99.9 million and $9.0 million, respectively. Capital expenditures and
acquisitions of fixed assets totaled $132.4 million. The excess of cost over
net tangible assets of businesses acquired relates primarily to a 1981 U.S.
acquisition.
The Company's capitalization is summarized in the following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
-----------------
1997 1996
-----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Long-term debt 8.3% 11.0%
Other long-term
liabilities 13.4% 13.8%
Shareholders' equity 78.3% 75.2%
-----------------
Total capitalization 100.0% 100.0%
=================
</TABLE>
The increase in shareholders' equity is discussed in Management's Discussion of
Shareholders' Equity. The decline in long-term debt is discussed in
Management's Discussion of Cash Flows.
II-22
<PAGE> 46
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
The Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity summarize the activity in
each component of shareholders' equity for the three years presented. In 1997
shareholders' equity increased by $145.1 million, mainly from net income of
$182.0 million and $18.7 million from exercise of stock options partially offset
by a decrease in foreign currency translation adjustments of $34.0 million
(resulting from a decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the
U.S. dollar) and dividend payments, net of reinvestments, of $23.0 million.
Shareholders' equity increased $129.6 million in 1996 due to net income of
$140.9 million partially offset by dividend payments, net of reinvestments, of
$12.2 million.
Common equity interests include common shares and the Lafarge Canada Inc.
exchangeable shares, which have comparable voting, dividend, and liquidation
rights. Common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
ticker symbol "LAF" and on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Montreal Exchange.
The exchangeable shares are traded on the Montreal Exchange and the Toronto
Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "LCI.PR.E."
The following table reflects the range of high and low closing prices of common
shares by quarter for 1997 and 1996 as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Quarters Ended
------------------------------------
March June Sept. Dec.
31 30 30 31
------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1997 Stock Prices
High $24 3/8 $25 7/8 $33 $33 9/16
Low 20 1/8 22 1/8 24 3/4 25 13/16
1996 Stock Prices
High $19 3/8 $21 3/4 $20 7/8 $20 3/8
Low 18 1/4 18 5/8 18 1/8 18 1/4
</TABLE>
Dividends are summarized in the following table (in thousands, except per share
amounts):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
-----------------------------
1997 1996 1995
-----------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Common equity dividends $30,019 $28,008 $25,898
Less dividend reinvestments (7,010) (15,843) (15,784)
-----------------------------
Net cash dividend payments $23,009 $12,165 $10,114
-----------------------------
Common equity dividends per share $.42 $.40 $.375
=============================
</TABLE>
II-23
<PAGE> 47
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION OF SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The Selected Consolidated Financial Data provide both a reference for some data
frequently requested about the Company and a useful record for reviewing trends.
The Company's net sales increased by 5 percent from 1993 to 1994 due to
increases in cement and ready-mixed concrete shipments and higher cement prices.
Net sales were reduced by the declining value of the Canadian dollar relative to
the U.S. currency and divestments. Net sales declined 6 percent in 1995 due to
divestments, weak construction activity in Canada and poor weather in the fourth
quarter relative to 1994, partially offset by higher cement prices. The
Company's net sales increased 12 percent in 1996 due to higher product shipments
and prices as well as the effect of acquisitions (in late 1995 and early 1996)
in the construction materials operations. Net sales also improved from the
entry into the gypsum wallboard business. Net sales in 1997 increased 10
percent mainly due to increased product shipments, higher cement and ready-mixed
concrete prices, and full year operation of the gypsum wallboard business. See
Management's Discussion of Income for additional details on net sales.
Inflation has not been a significant factor in the Company's sales or earnings
growth because of low inflation rates in recent years and because the Company
continually attempts to offset the effect of inflation by improving operating
efficiencies, especially in the areas of selling and administrative expenses,
productivity and energy costs. The ability to recover increasing costs by
obtaining higher prices for the Company's products varies with the level of
activity in the construction industry and the availability of products to supply
a local market.
Net cash provided by operations consists of net income (loss) adjusted primarily
for depreciation and a restructuring provision and related payments in 1994 and
1993. The Company is in a capital-intensive industry and as a result recognizes
large amounts of depreciation. The Company has used the cash provided by
operations essentially to expand its markets, improve the performance of its
plants and other operating equipment, and to reduce debt.
Capital expenditures and acquisitions totaled $666.0 million over the past five
years. Significant investments during the period included: the purchase of two
gypsum wallboard manufacturing facilities; a variety of cement plant projects to
increase production capacity and reduce costs; the installation of receiving and
handling facilities of substitute fuels and raw materials; the building and
purchasing of additional distribution terminals and water transportation
facilities to extend markets and improve existing supply networks; the
acquisition of ready-mixed concrete plants and aggregate operations; and the
modernization of the construction materials mobile equipment fleet.
II-24
<PAGE> 48
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The following financial information is included on the pages indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
Report of Independent Public Accountants II - 26
Consolidated Balance Sheets II - 27
Consolidated Statements of Income II - 28
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity II - 29
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows II - 30
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements II - 31 through II - 53
</TABLE>
II-25
<PAGE> 49
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To Lafarge Corporation:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Lafarge
Corporation (a Maryland corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997
and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows, and
shareholders' equity for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1997. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above (appearing on pages
II-27 through II-52) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Lafarge Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and
1996, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
Our audit was made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. The consolidated Schedule
II (appearing on page IV-7) is presented for purposes of complying with the
Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and is not part of the basic
consolidated financial statements. This schedule has been subjected to the
auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic consolidated financial
statements and, in our opinion, fairly states in all material respects the
financial data required to be set forth therein in relation to the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Washington, D.C.
January 22, 1998
(except with respect to the matters discussed in the
Note entitled "Subsequent Events" as to which the
date is March 18, 1998)
II-26
<PAGE> 50
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
----------------------
1997 1996
----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 163,033 $ 116,847
Short-term investments 155,368 92,496
Receivables, net 254,720 287,692
Inventories 209,220 205,804
Other current assets 33,627 29,391
----------------------
Total current assets 815,968 732,230
Property, plant and equipment, net 876,744 867,723
Excess of cost over net tangible
assets of businesses acquired, net 27,859 31,657
Other assets 178,486 181,369
----------------------
Total Assets $1,899,057 $1,812,979
======================
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Accounts payable and accrued
liabilities $ 231,528 $ 214,393
Income taxes payable 34,434 28,151
Short-term borrowings and current
portion of long-term debt 29,770 44,821
Short-term borrowings from related
party - 50,000
----------------------
Total current liabilities 295,732 337,365
Long-term debt 132,337 161,934
Other long-term liabilities 215,300 203,141
----------------------
Total liabilities 643,369 702,440
----------------------
Common Equity Interests
Common shares ($1.00 par value;
authorized 110.1 million
shares; issued 65.3 and 62.6
million shares, respectively) 65,268 62,590
Exchangeable shares (no par or
stated value; authorized 24.3
million shares; issued 6.4 and 7.8
million shares, respectively) 45,259 53,817
Additional paid-in capital 649,082 615,993
Retained earnings 593,438 441,481
Foreign currency translation
adjustments (97,359) (63,342)
----------------------
Total shareholders' equity 1,255,688 1,110,539
----------------------
Total Liabilities and Shareholders'
Equity $1,899,057 $1,812,979
======================
</TABLE>
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
II-27
<PAGE> 51
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
----------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
----------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net Sales $1,806,351 $1,649,280 $1,472,159
----------------------------------
Costs and expenses
Cost of goods sold 1,335,206 1,251,886 1,149,168
Selling and administrative 160,963 151,442 141,112
Interest expense 19,949 24,118 27,086
Interest income (13,285) (10,068) (11,867)
Other (income) expense, net 9,284 9,574 (3,507)
----------------------------------
Total costs and expenses 1,512,117 1,426,952 1,301,992
----------------------------------
Pre-tax income 294,234 222,328 170,167
Income taxes 112,258 81,462 40,554
----------------------------------
Net Income $ 181,976 $ 140,866 $ 129,613
==================================
Net Income Per Common Equity
Share-Basic $ 2.56 $ 2.02 $ 1.89
==================================
Net Income Per Common Equity
Share-Diluted $ 2.54 $ 1.95 $ 1.82
==================================
Dividends Per Common Equity Share $ 0.42 $ 0.40 $ 0.375
==================================
</TABLE>
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
II-28
<PAGE> 52
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Amount Shares Amount Shares Amount Shares
------------------- ------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Equity
Interests
Common Shares
Balance at January 1 $ 62,590 62,590 $ 60,735 60,735 $ 59,694 59,694
Issuance of Common
Shares for:
Dividend
reinvestment plans 256 256 814 814 812 812
Employee stock
purchase plan 33 33 36 36 36 36
Exchange of
Exchangeable Shares 1,421 1,421 810 810 59 59
Exercise of stock
options 968 968 195 195 134 134
------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Balance at December
31 $ 65,268 65,268 $ 62,590 62,590 $ 60,735 60,735
=================== =================== =================
Exchangeable Shares
Balance at January 1 $ 53,817 7,764 $ 58,311 8,501 $ 57,805 8,494
Issuance of
Exchangeable
Shares for:
Dividend
reinvestment plans 1,035 40 827 45 722 39
Employee stock
purchase plan 180 26 190 28 182 27
Exchange of
Exchangeable Shares (9,773) (1,421) (5,511) (810) (398) (59)
------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Balance at December
31 $ 45,259 6,409 $ 53,817 7,764 $ 58,311 8,501
=================== =================== =================
Additional Paid-In
Capital
Balance at January 1 $ 615,993 $ 593,310 $576,054
Issuance of Common
and/or
Exchangeable Shares
for:
Dividend
reinvestment plans 5,719 14,203 14,250
Employee stock
purchase plan 1,241 1,154 1,001
Exchange of
Exchangeable Shares 8,352 4,701 339
Exercise of stock
options 17,777 2,625 1,666
---------- ---------- --------
Balance at December
31 $ 649,082 $ 615,993 $593,310
========== ========== ========
Retained Earnings
Balance at January 1 $ 441,481 $ 328,623 $224,908
Net Income 181,976 140,866 129,613
Dividends-common
equity interests (30,019) (28,008) (25,898)
---------- ---------- --------
Balance at December
31 $ 593,438 $ 441,481 $328,623
========== ========== ========
Foreign Currency
Translation
Adjustments
Balance at January 1 $ (63,342) $ (60,001) $(77,007)
Translation
adjustments (34,017) (3,341) 17,006
---------- ---------- --------
Balance at December
31 $ (97,359) $ (63,342) $(60,001)
---------- ---------- --------
Total Shareholders'
Equity $1,255,688 $1,110,539 $980,978
========== ========== ========
</TABLE>
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
II-29
<PAGE> 53
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
-------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
-------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash Flows from Operations
Net income $ 181,976 $ 140,866 $ 129,613
Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation, depletion, and
amortization 106,304 100,507 94,321
Provision for bad debts 2,365 255 588
Deferred income taxes 9,815 8,491 (25,101)
Gain on sale of assets (6,038) (4,085) (14,585)
Other noncash charges and credits,
net 2,512 (156) (2,918)
Net change in operating working
capital (see below)* 39,052 (37,847) (63,651)
-------------------------------
Net Cash Provided by Operations 335,986 208,031 118,267
-------------------------------
Cash Flows from Investing
Capital expenditures (123,970) (124,790) (121,882)
Acquisitions (8,817) (83,484) (29,319)
Purchases of short-term investments,
net (62,872) (7,980) (34,016)
Proceeds from property, plant and
equipment dispositions 18,947 29,126 34,628
Other (4,020) (203) 2,920
-------------------------------
Net Cash Used for Investing (180,732) (187,331) (147,669)
-------------------------------
Cash Flows From Financing
Repayment of long-term debt (16,758) (109,021) (24,314)
Short-term borrowings (77,850) 77,850 ---
Issuance of equity securities, net 20,199 4,201 3,019
Dividends, net of reinvestments (23,009) (12,165) (10,114)
-------------------------------
Net Cash Consumed by Financing (97,418) (39,135) (31,409)
-------------------------------
Effect of exchange rate changes (11,650) (1,153) 4,189
-------------------------------
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and
Cash Equivalents 46,186 (19,588) (56,622)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at
Beginning of Year 116,847 136,435 193,057
-------------------------------
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of
Year $ 163,033 $ 116,847 $ 136,435
===============================
*Analysis of Changes in Working
Capital Items
Receivables, net $ 22,779 $ (20,015) $ 7,550
Inventories (7,692) 11,249 (31,147)
Other current assets (2,287) (97) (773)
Accounts payable and accrued
liabilities 19,262 (25,479) (30,870)
Income taxes payable 6,990 (3,505) (8,411)
-------------------------------
Net Change in Operating Working
Capital $ 39,052 $ (37,847) $ (63,651)
===============================
</TABLE>
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
II-30
<PAGE> 54
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Together with its subsidiaries, Lafarge Corporation (Lafarge), a Maryland
corporation, is engaged in the production and sale of cement, ready-mixed
concrete, aggregates, other concrete products and gypsum wallboard. Lafarge
operates in the U.S. and its major operating subsidiary, Lafarge Canada Inc.
(LCI), operates throughout Canada. The primary U.S. markets are in the
midwestern, midsouth, northeastern, north-central and northwestern areas.
Lafarge's wholly owned subsidiary, Systech Environmental Corporation, supplies
cement plants with substitute fuels and raw materials. Lafarge S.A., a French
corporation, and certain of its affiliates (Lafarge S.A.) own a majority of the
voting securities of Lafarge.
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING POLICIES
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from
these estimates.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Lafarge and all of
its majority-owned subsidiaries (the Company), after the elimination of
intercompany transactions and balances. Investments in affiliates in which the
Company has less than a majority ownership are accounted for by the equity
method. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial
statements to conform to the 1997 presentation.
Foreign Currency Translation
The assets and liabilities of LCI are translated at the exchange rate prevailing
at the balance sheet date. Revenue and expense accounts for this subsidiary are
translated using the average exchange rate during the period. Foreign currency
translation adjustments are disclosed as a separate item in shareholders'
equity.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from the sale of cement, concrete products, aggregates, and gypsum
wallboard is recorded when the products are shipped. Revenue from waste recovery
and disposal is recorded when the material is received, tested and accepted.
Revenue from road construction contracts is recognized on the basis of units of
work completed, while revenue from other indivisible lump sum contracts is
recognized using the percentage-of-completion method.
II-31
<PAGE> 55
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company at times uses derivative financial instruments (Derivatives) in
order to hedge the impact of changes in interest rates. These Derivatives are
not held or issued for trading purposes.
The Company is a party to an interest rate swap contract (Interest Swap)
requiring the Company to make a fixed interest rate payment and to receive a
floating interest rate payment from a commercial bank. This Interest Swap was
transacted in order to hedge a portion of the Company's floating interest rate
borrowings from significant changes in interest rates. The net difference in
interest payments is recognized over the life of the Interest Swap as a
component in the "Interest Expense" caption in the Consolidated Statements of
Income.
Cash Equivalents
The Company considers liquid investments purchased with an original maturity at
the date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Because of
the short maturity, their carrying amount approximates fair value.
Short-Term Investments
Short-term investments consist primarily of commercial paper with original
maturities beyond three months and fewer than 12 months. Such short-term
investments are carried at cost, which approximates fair value, due to the short
period of time to maturity.
Inventories
Inventories are valued at lower of cost or market. The majority of the Company's
U.S. inventories, other than maintenance and operating supplies, are stated at
last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost and all other inventories are valued at average
cost.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed for financial
reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the estimated useful
lives of the assets. These lives range from three years on light mobile
equipment to 40 years on certain buildings. Land and mineral deposits include
depletable raw material reserves on which depletion is recorded using the
units-of-production method.
II-32
<PAGE> 56
Excess of Cost Over Net Tangible Assets of Businesses Acquired
The excess of cost over fair value of net tangible assets of businesses acquired
(goodwill) is amortized using the straight-line method over periods not
exceeding 40 years. The Company continually evaluates whether events and
circumstances have occurred that indicate the remaining estimated useful life of
goodwill may warrant revision or that the remaining balance of goodwill may not
be recoverable. In evaluating impairment, the Company estimates the sum of the
expected future cash flows, undiscounted and without interest charges, derived
from such goodwill over its remaining life. The Company believes that no
impairment exists at December 31, 1997. The amortization recorded for 1997,
1996 and 1995 was $3.7 million, $3.0 million and $2.4 million, respectively.
Accumulated amortization at December 31, 1997 and 1996 was $44.3 million and
$40.6 million, respectively.
Other Postretirement Benefits
The Company accrues the expected cost of retiree health care and life insurance
benefits and charges it to expense during the years that the employees render
service.
In addition, the Company accrues for benefits provided to former or inactive
employees after employment but before retirement when it becomes probable that
such benefits will be paid and when sufficient information exists to make
reasonable estimates of the amounts to be paid.
Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes are determined by the liability method in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income
Taxes" (SFAS No. 109).
Environmental Remediation Liabilities
When the Company determines that it is probable that a liability for
environmental matters has been incurred, an undiscounted estimate of the
required remediation costs is recorded as a liability in the financial
statements, without offset of potential insurance recoveries. Costs that extend
the life, increase the capacity or improve the safety or efficiency of Company
owned assets or are incurred to mitigate or prevent future environmental
contamination may be capitalized. All other environmental costs are expensed
when incurred.
Research and Development
The Company is committed to improving its manufacturing process, maintaining
product quality and meeting existing and future customer needs. These objectives
are pursued through various programs. Research and development costs, which are
charged to expense as incurred, were $7.2 million, $6.3 million and $6.6 million
for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
II-33
<PAGE> 57
Interest
Interest of $1.4 million, $1.2 million and $2.1 million was capitalized in 1997,
1996, and 1995, respectively.
Net Income Per Common Equity Share
In 1997 the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share" (SFAS No. 128). This new
standard replaces primary earnings per share (EPS) with basic EPS and fully
diluted EPS with diluted EPS. The Company adopted this standard in 1997 and has
restated all prior periods (see Earnings Per Share note).
The calculation of basic net income per common equity share is based on the
weighted average number of Lafarge's common shares and the Exchangeable
Preference Shares of LCI (exchangeable shares) outstanding in each period. The
weighted average number of shares and share equivalents outstanding was (in
thousands) 71,128, 69,783 and 68,666 in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
The weighted average number of shares and share equivalents outstanding,
assuming dilution, was (in thousands) 71,695, 74,377 and 73,504 in 1997, 1996
and 1995, respectively, and assumed conversion of the Convertible Subordinated
Debentures (convertible debentures) in 1996 and 1995. The convertible
debentures were redeemed in 1996 as further explained in the Debt note.
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for employee stock options using the method of accounting
prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees."
Generally, no expense is recognized related to the Company's stock options
because the option's exercise price is set at the stock's fair market value on
the date the option is granted.
Effective January 1, 1996 the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (SFAS No. 123), by
making the required note disclosures (see Stock Option and Purchase Plans note).
Accordingly, adoption of this new standard has no impact on the Company's
reported financial position or operating results.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Effective
In 1997 the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" (SFAS 130) and
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments
of an Enterprise and Related Information" (SFAS 131). SFAS 130 requires that an
enterprise display comprehensive income, which for the Company is the total of
net income and the current year foreign currency translation adjustment, in its
financial statements. SFAS 131 requires that a public business enterprise
report financial and descriptive information about its reportable operating
segments. Application of these new standards is required in financial
statements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997.
II-34
<PAGE> 58
Acquisitions
In September 1996 the Company acquired G-P Gypsum Corp.'s (a subsidiary of
Georgia-Pacific Corporation) gypsum wallboard plants in Buchanan, New York, and
Wilmington, Delaware.
RECEIVABLES
Receivables consist of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
------------------
1997 1996
------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Trade and notes receivable $270,197 $305,471
Retainage on long-term contracts 5,305 4,765
Allowances (20,782) (22,544)
------------------
Total receivables, net $254,720 $287,692
==================
</TABLE>
INVENTORIES
Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
------------------
1997 1996
------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Finished products $104,508 $100,900
Work in process 7,791 13,711
Raw materials and fuel 50,547 45,550
Maintenance and
operating supplies 46,374 45,643
------------------
Total inventories $209,220 $205,804
==================
</TABLE>
Included in the finished products, work in process and raw materials and fuel
categories are inventories valued using the LIFO method of $72.3 million and
$61.1 million at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. If these inventories
were valued using the average cost method, such inventories would have decreased
by $5.1 million and $5.0 million, respectively.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
-------------------------
1997 1996
-------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Land and mineral deposits $ 164,085 $ 166,060
Buildings, machinery and
equipment 1,701,241 1,652,942
Construction in progress 79,345 74,254
-------------------------
Property, plant and
equipment, at cost 1,944,671 1,893,256
Less accumulated
depreciation and
depletion (1,067,927) (1,025,533)
-------------------------
Total property, plant
and equipment, net $ 876,744 $ 867,723
=========================
</TABLE>
II-35
<PAGE> 59
OTHER ASSETS
Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
-------------------
1997 1996
-------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Long-term receivables $ 20,328 $ 17,082
Investments in unconsolidated
companies 19,770 22,646
Prepaid pension asset 90,526 88,157
Property held for sale 17,034 19,594
Other 30,828 33,890
-------------------
Total other assets $178,486 $181,369
===================
</TABLE>
Property held for sale represents certain permanently closed cement plants and
land that are carried at the lower of cost or estimated net realizable value.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the following (in
thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
-------------------
1997 1996
-------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Trade accounts payable $ 78,068 $ 67,284
Accrued payroll expense 37,713 35,862
Bank overdrafts 8,967 14,328
Other accrued expenses 106,780 96,919
-------------------
Total accounts payable and accrued
liabilities $231,528 $214,393
===================
</TABLE>
II-36
<PAGE> 60
DEBT
Debt consists of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
---------------------------
1997 1996
---------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Medium-term notes maturing in various
amounts between 1998 and 2006, bearing
interest at fixed rates which range from
9.2 percent to 9.8 percent $122,000 $138,000
Tax-exempt bonds maturing in various
amounts between 1998 and 2026,bearing
interest at floating rates which
range from 4.2 percent to 6.8 percent 38,917 39,450
Short-term borrowings maturing in various
amounts -- 27,850
Short-term borrowings from related party -- 50,000
Other 1,190 1,455
---------------------------
Subtotal 162,107 256,755
Less short-term borrowings and current
portion of long-term debt (29,770) (94,821)
---------------------------
Total long-term debt $132,337 $161,934
===========================
</TABLE>
The fair value of debt at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, was
approximately $179.1 million and $267.7 million compared with $162.1 million and
$256.8 million included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. This fair value was
estimated based on quoted market prices or current interest rates offered to the
Company for debt of the same maturity.
The annual principal payment requirements on debt, excluding short-term
borrowings, for each of the five years in the period ending December 31, 2002
are as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Repayments
----------
<S> <C>
1998 $ 29.8
1999 $ 22.7
2000 $ 35.3
2001 $ 30.4
2002 $ 15.7
Thereafter $ 28.2
</TABLE>
II-37
<PAGE> 61
The Company has similar, bilateral revolving credit facilities with six
institutions for total commitments of $150 million extending through June 1,
2001. At the end of 1997 no amounts were outstanding. The Company is required
to pay annual commitment fees of 0.10 percent of the total amount of the
facilities. Borrowings made under the revolving credit facilities will bear
interest at variable rates based on a bank's prime lending rate or the
applicable LIBOR rate.
The Company's debt agreements require the maintenance of certain financial
ratios relating to fixed charge coverage and leverage. At December 31, 1997 the
Company was in compliance with these requirements.
In December 1996 the Company redeemed all of the outstanding $100 million 7%
Convertible Debentures dated July 1, 1988. The redemption price was 101.4
percent of the principal amount plus interest accrued to the redemption date.
As a result of the redemption, the Company incurred a pre-tax charge of $2.2
million in the fourth quarter ($1.3 million after tax or $.02 per share).
Approximately $.8 million of the pre-tax charge represented previously
unamortized debt issuance cost. If the redemption of the debentures had taken
place on January 1, 1996, diluted earnings per share would have increased by
$.06 to $2.01 for the year ended December 31, 1996.
At December 31, 1997 the Company maintained one $25 million (notional amount)
Interest Swap contract which matures in 1999. As of December 31, 1997 it
required the Company to pay a fixed rate of 8.7 percent in exchange for a
floating rate receipt of 5.8 percent. Throughout 1997 outstanding floating
interest rate borrowings exceeded the amount of this Interest Swap. Therefore
no mark-to-market provision was recorded during the year.
The differences in swapped interest rates are paid every three months pursuant
to the Interest Swap contract. Although the Company is exposed to credit loss
in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the Interest Swap contract,
it does not anticipate nonperformance.
Based on interest rates at December 31, 1997 the net termination cost for the
Company to unwind its Interest Swap was approximately $1.0 million.
II-38
<PAGE> 62
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Other long-term liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
--------------------
1997 1996
--------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred income taxes $ 59,970 $ 48,709
Minority interests 6,252 7,573
Accrued postretirement benefit cost 126,475 124,867
Accrued pension liability 18,558 16,898
Other 4,045 5,094
--------------------
Total other long-term liabilities $215,300 $203,141
====================
</TABLE>
COMMON EQUITY INTERESTS
Holders of exchangeable shares have voting, dividend and liquidation rights that
parallel those of holders of the Company's common shares. The exchangeable
shares may be converted to the Company's common shares on a one-for-one basis.
Dividends on the exchangeable shares are cumulative and payable at the same time
as any dividends declared on the Company's common shares. The Company has
agreed not to pay dividends on its common shares without causing LCI to declare
an equivalent dividend in Canadian dollars on the exchangeable shares. Dividend
payments and the exchange rate on the exchangeable shares are subject to
adjustment from time to time to take into account certain dilutive events.
At December 31, 1997 the Company had reserved for issuance approximately 8.2
million common shares for the exchange of outstanding exchangeable shares.
Additional common equity shares are reserved to cover grants under the Company's
stock option program (4.3 million), employee stock purchase plan (.6 million)
and issuances pursuant to the Company's optional stock dividend plan (2.1
million).
OPTIONAL STOCK DIVIDEND PLAN
The Company has an optional stock dividend plan that permits holders of record
of common equity shares to elect to receive new common equity shares issued as
stock dividends in lieu of cash dividends on such shares. The common equity
shares are issued under the plan at 95 percent of the average market price, as
defined in the plan.
II-39
<PAGE> 63
STOCK OPTION AND PURCHASE PLANS
At December 31, 1997 the Company maintained two stock-based compensation plans -
a fixed stock option plan and an employee stock purchase plan. The Company
applies APB Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations in accounting for these
plans. Accordingly, generally no compensation cost has been recognized for
these plans. If compensation cost for the Company's stock-based compensation
plans had been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates for awards
under those plans consistent with the method described by SFAS No. 123, the
Company's net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro
forma amounts indicated as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
----------------------------
1997 1996 1995
----------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NET INCOME
As reported $181,976 $140,866 $129,613
Pro forma $180,402 $139,803 $129,090
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
As reported $ 2.56 $ 2.02 $ 1.89
Pro forma $ 2.54 $ 2.00 $ 1.88
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
As reported $ 2.54 $ 1.95 $ 1.82
Pro forma $ 2.51 $ 1.94 $ 1.82
</TABLE>
The method of accounting under SFAS No. 123 has not been applied to options
granted prior to January 1, 1995. The pro forma compensation cost may not be
representative of that to be expected in future years.
Under the stock option plan, options to purchase the Company's common shares
have been granted to key employees and directors of the Company at option prices
based on the market price of the securities at the date of grant. One-fourth of
the employee options granted are exercisable at the end of each year following
the date of grant. Director options are exercisable based on the length of a
director's service on the Company's Board of Directors and become fully
exercisable when a director has served on the Board for over four years. The
options expire ten years from the date of grant.
The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant for
purposes of the pro forma disclosures shown above using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used for
grants made in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively: dividend yield of 1.90, 2.12
and 2.08 percent; expected volatility of 26.0, 37.0 and 38.4 percent; risk-free
interest rates of 6.47, 5.65, and 7.55 percent; and expected lives of 5.4 for
all three years.
II-40
<PAGE> 64
A summary of the status of the Company's fixed stock option plans as of December
31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, and changes during the years ended on these dates is
presented below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Average Average
Option Option Option
Shares Price Shares Price Shares Price
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance outstanding at
beginning of year 2,481,287 $17.87 2,319,837 $17.33 2,153,720 $17.06
Options granted 541,000 21.43 492,000 18.88 483,800 18.00
Options exercised (967,612) 16.50 (194,925) 14.47 (134,308) 13.41
Options canceled (70,625) 20.05 (135,625) 19.11 (183,375) 19.11
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance outstanding at
end of year 1,984,050 $19.43 2,481,287 $17.87 2,319,837 $17.33
===========================================================================
Options exercisable at
end of year 886,650 $18.35 1,452,937 $16.83 1,379,037 $16.09
===========================================================================
Weighted-average fair
value of options
granted during the
year $6.50 $6.65 $7.09
===========================================================================
</TABLE>
As of December 31, 1997 the 1.98 million fixed stock options outstanding under
the plans have an exercise price between $12.63 and $24.13 and a
weighted-average remaining contractual life of 6.93 years.
The Company's employee stock purchase plan permits substantially all employees
to purchase the Company's common equity interests through payroll deductions at
90 percent of the lower of the beginning or end of plan year market prices. In
1997 59,316 shares were issued to employees under the plan at a share price of
$19.24 and in 1996, 64,345 shares were issued at a share price of $17.33. At
December 31, 1997 and 1996 $.7 million was subscribed for future share
purchases.
II-41
<PAGE> 65
EARNINGS PER SHARE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Per-Share
Income Shares Amount
-----------------------------
For the Year Ended 1997
-----------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Net Income $181,976 71,128 $2.56
===========
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
Options 567
------------------
Income available to common
stockholders
plus assumed conversions $181,976 71,695 $2.54
=============================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
For the Year Ended 1996
-----------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Net Income $140,866 69,783 $2.02
===========
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
Options 309
Add after tax interest
expense applicable
to convertible debentures 4,153 4,285
------------------
Income available to common
stockholders
plus assumed conversions $145,019 74,377 $1.95
=============================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
For the Year Ended 1995
-----------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Net Income $129,613 68,666 $1.89
===========
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
Options 318
Add after tax interest
expense applicable
to convertible debentures 4,473 4,520
------------------
Income available to common
stockholders plus assumed
conversions $134,086 73,504 $1.82
=============================
</TABLE>
Basic earnings per common share were computed by dividing net income by the
weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year.
Diluted earnings per common share assumed the exercise of stock options and in
1996 and 1995, assumed conversion of the convertible debentures. The Company's
reported earnings per share for 1996 and 1995 were restated as a result of
adopting SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share" in 1997.
II-42
<PAGE> 66
INCOME TAXES
Pre-tax income is summarized by country in the following table (in
thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
United States* $151,634 $97,267 $57,908
Canada* 142,600 125,061 112,259
------------------------------
Pre-tax income $294,234 $222,328 $170,167
==============================
</TABLE>
* The 1997, 1996 and 1995 amounts shown for Canada and the United States
include $6.1 million, $13.7 million and $30.1 million, respectively, of
adjustments resulting from an agreement reached with Revenue Canada
Taxation (as described below). If these adjustments were not reflected,
1997, 1996 and 1995 pre-tax income in Canada would be decreased and
pre-tax income in the U.S. would be increased by $6.1 million, $13.7
million and $30.1 million, respectively.
The provision for income taxes includes the following components (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current
United States $46,012 $27,600 $25,300
Canada 56,431 45,371 40,355
------------------------------
Total current 102,443 72,971 65,655
------------------------------
Deferred
United States 12,200 8,800 (26,300)
Canada (2,385) (309) 1,199
------------------------------
Total deferred 9,815 8,491 (25,101)
------------------------------
Total income taxes $112,258 $81,462 $40,554
==============================
</TABLE>
The Company's U.S. federal tax liability has not been finalized by the Internal
Revenue Service for any year subsequent to 1983 due to the existence prior to
1995 of significant tax net operating loss and credit carryforwards. During 1995
an agreement was reached with Revenue Canada Taxation related to the pricing of
certain cement sales between the Company's operations in Canada and the U.S. for
the years 1984 through 1994. The result was an increase in net sales and
pre-tax income in Canada by U.S. $30.1 million with corresponding adjustments in
the U.S. During 1997 and 1996 the Company recorded $6.1 million and $13.7
million adjustments for the years 1996 and 1995, respectively, based on the
aforementioned agreement with Revenue Canada Taxation. The impact of these
adjustments was immaterial to consolidated net income. Under the terms of the
Canada-U.S. Income Tax Convention, the agreement has been submitted to the
Competent Authorities of Canada and the U.S. and is subject to adjustment. The
purpose of the Competent Authorities is to reach agreement for the elimination
of double taxation that is not in accordance with the Convention. The Company's
II-43
<PAGE> 67
Canadian federal tax liability for all taxation years through 1994 has
been reviewed and finalized by Revenue Canada Taxation.
A reconciliation of taxes at the U.S. federal income tax rate to the
Company's actual income taxes is as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
--------------------------
1997 1996 1995
--------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Taxes at the U.S. federal
income tax rate $103.0 $77.8 $59.6
U.S./Canadian tax rate
differential 4.3 3.7 3.4
Canadian tax incentives (8.8) (8.0) (7.0)
State and Canadian
provincial income taxes,
net of federal benefit 11.4 8.6 8.2
Change in valuation
allowance -- -- (23.0)
Tax effect of certain
operating losses and
other tax credits,
primarily U.S. -- -- (1.8)
Other items 2.4 (0.6) 1.2
--------------------------
Provision for income taxes $112.3 $81.5 $40.6
==========================
</TABLE>
Deferred income taxes reflect the tax consequences of "temporary differences"
between the amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes
and such amounts as measured by tax law. These temporary differences are
determined in accordance with SFAS No. 109.
Temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to deferred tax assets
and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
------------------
1997 1996
------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax assets:
Reserves and other liabilities $ 48,112 $ 48,980
Other postretirement benefits 50,413 49,785
Tax loss carryforwards 4,049 4,745
Tax credit carryforwards -- 2,558
------------------
Gross deferred tax assets 102,574 106,068
Valuation allowance (23,296) (23,296)
------------------
Net deferred tax assets 79,278 82,772
------------------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment 88,637 85,875
Prepaid pension asset 27,918 27,587
Other 5,976 4,505
------------------
Gross deferred tax liabilities 122,531 117,967
------------------
Net deferred tax liability 43,253 35,195
Net deferred tax asset--current 16,717 13,514
------------------
Net deferred tax
liability--noncurrent $ 59,970 $ 48,709
==================
</TABLE>
II-44
<PAGE> 68
A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the deferred tax assets to a level
which, more likely than not under the rules of SFAS No. 109, will be realized.
At December 31, 1997 the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of $10.5
million. The net operating loss carryforwards are limited to use in varying
annual amounts through 2006.
Deferred tax assets include approximately $9.2 million that represents the tax
effect of transfer pricing adjustments that have not been deducted in the U.S.
pending settlement between the U.S. and Canadian Competent Authorities as
previously noted.
At December 31, 1997 cumulative undistributed earnings of LCI were $796.8
million. No provision for U.S. income taxes or Canadian withholding taxes has
been made since the Company considers the undistributed earnings to be
permanently invested in Canada. The Company's management has decided that the
determination of the amount of any unrecognized deferred tax liability for the
cumulative undistributed earnings of LCI is impracticable since it would depend
on a number of factors that cannot be known until such time as a decision to
repatriate the earnings might be made.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company's single business segment includes the manufacture and sale of
cement and ready-mixed concrete, precast and prestressed concrete components,
concrete block and pipe, aggregates, reinforcing steel and gypsum wallboard. In
addition, the Company is engaged in road building and other construction that
use many of its own products, and in supplying cement plants with substitute
fuels and raw materials.
Sales between the United States and Canada are accounted for at fair market
value. Income from operations equals net sales plus other income less cost of
goods sold, and selling and administrative expenses. It excludes interest
expense, interest income and income taxes. Financial information by country is
as follows (in millions):
II-45
<PAGE> 69
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
--------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
--------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net Sales *
United States $1,046.8 $953.6 $821.1
Canada 828.9 777.5 722.3
Eliminations (69.3) (81.8) (71.2)
--------------------------------
Total net sales $1,806.4 $1,649.3 $1,472.2
================================
Income from operations *
United States $170.7 $131.7 $109.9
Canada 130.2 104.7 75.5
--------------------------------
Total income from operations $300.9 $236.4 $185.4
================================
Identifiable assets
United States $906.0 $889.7 $868.3
Canada 993.1 923.3 845.6
--------------------------------
Total identifiable assets $1,899.1 $1,813.0 $1,713.9
================================
</TABLE>
* The 1997, 1996 and 1995 amounts shown as income from operations for Canada
and the United States exclude $6.1 million, $13.7 million and $30.1 million,
respectively, of adjustments resulting from an agreement reached with
Revenue Canada Taxation (as described in the Income Taxes note). If these
adjustments were reflected, net sales and income from operations in Canada
would be increased with corresponding adjustments in the U.S. There would be
no impact on consolidated income from operations.
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Non-cash investing and financing activities included the issuance of 296,000,
859,000 and 851,000 common equity shares on the reinvestment of dividends
totaling $7.0 million, $15.8 million and $15.8 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
Cash paid during the year for interest and income taxes is as follows (in
thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
---------------------------
1997 1996 1995
---------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Interest $20,415 $17,595 $15,944
Income taxes (net of refunds) $93,045 $74,188 $75,218
===========================
</TABLE>
II-46
<PAGE> 70
PENSION PLANS
The Company has several defined benefit and defined contribution retirement
plans covering substantially all employees. Benefits paid under the defined
benefit plans are generally based on either years of service and the
employee's compensation over the last few years of employment or years of
service multiplied by a contractual amount. The Company's funding policy is to
contribute amounts that are deductible for income tax purposes.
The following table summarizes the consolidated funded status of the Company's
defined benefit retirement plans and provides a reconciliation to the
consolidated prepaid pension asset and accrued pension liability recorded on
the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1997 and 1996 (in
millions). For 1997 and 1996 the assumed settlement interest rates were 7.0 and
7.5 percent, respectively, for the Company's U.S. plans and 6.75 and 7.5
percent, respectively, for the Canadian plans. For 1997 and 1996 the assumed
rates of increase in future compensation levels used in determining the
actuarial present values of the projected benefit obligations was 4.5 percent
for the Company's U.S. plans and 4.25 percent for the Canadian plans. The
expected long-term rate of investment return on pension assets, which includes
listed stocks, fixed income securities and real estate, for each country was
9.0 percent for each year presented.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1997 December 31, 1996
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets Exceed Accumulated Assets Exceed Accumulated
Accumulated Benefits Exceed Accumulated Benefits Exceed
Benefits Assets Benefits Assets
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Actuarial present value of:
Vested benefit obligations $308.7 $ 42.9 $316.4 $ 36.0
Accumulated benefit obligations 312.2 44.4 319.7 39.4
=================================================================================
Projected benefit obligation
for service rendered to date $385.3 $48.0 $354.5 $43.1
Market value of plan assets 472.3 19.4 433.4 17.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plan assets in excess of (less
than) projected benefit
obligations 87.0 (28.6) 78.9 (25.9)
Unrecognized net (gain) loss
due to past experience different
from prior assumptions made (0.3) 8.6 6.3 6.7
Unrecognized prior service costs 9.5 0.8 11.1 1.2
Unrecognized net (assets)
obligations at transition
to SFAS No. 87 (5.7) 0.6 (8.1) 1.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prepaid pension asset
(accrued pension liability) $90.5 $(18.6) $88.2 $(16.9)
=================================================================================
</TABLE>
II-47
<PAGE> 71
Net retirement cost for the years indicated includes the following components
(in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
----------------------------
1997 1996 1995
----------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Service cost of benefits earned
during the period $10.7 $9.7 $8.5
Interest cost on projected
benefit obligation 28.9 28.5 28.1
Actual gain on plan assets (70.9) (50.9) (61.3)
Net amortization and deferral 37.0 17.3 26.4
-------------------------
Total defined benefit plans cost 5.7 4.6 1.7
Defined contribution plans cost 3.8 3.8 3.6
-------------------------
Net retirement cost $9.5 $8.4 $5.3
=========================
</TABLE>
Certain employees are also covered under multi-employer pension plans
administered by unions. Amounts included in the preceding table as defined
benefit plans retirement cost include contributions to such plans of $4.0
million, $3.7 million and $3.2 million for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
The data available from administrators of the multi-employer plans are not
sufficient to determine the accumulated benefit obligation nor the net assets
attributable to the multi-employer plans in which Company employees
participate.
The defined contribution plans costs in the preceding table relate to thrift
savings plans for eligible U.S. and Canadian employees. Under the provisions
of these plans, the Company matches a portion of each participant's
contribution.
OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
The Company provides certain retiree health and life insurance benefits to
eligible employees who retire in the U.S. or Canada. Salaried participants
generally become eligible for retiree health care benefits when they retire
from active service at age 55 or later, although there are some variances by
plan or unit in Canada and the U.S. Benefits, eligibility and cost-sharing
provisions for hourly employees vary by location and/or bargaining unit.
Generally, the health plans pay a stated percentage of most medical/dental
expenses reduced for any deductible, copayment and payments made by government
programs and other group coverage. These plans are unfunded. An eligible
retiree's health care benefit coverage is coordinated in Canada with Provincial
Health and Insurance Plans and in the U.S., after attaining age 65, with
Medicare. Certain retired employees of businesses acquired by the Company are
covered under other care plans that differ from current plans in coverage,
deductibles and retiree contributions.
In the U.S., salaried retirees and dependents under age 65 have a $1,000,000
health care lifetime maximum benefit. At age 65 or over, the maximum is
$50,000. Lifetime maximums for hourly retirees are governed by the location
and/or bargaining agreement in effect at the time of retirement. In Canada
some units have maximums, but in most cases there are no lifetime maximums. In
some units in Canada, spouses of retirees have lifetime medical coverage.
II-48
<PAGE> 72
In Canada, both salaried and nonsalaried employees are generally eligible for
life insurance benefits. In the U.S., life insurance is provided for a number
of hourly retirees as stipulated in their hourly bargained agreements but not
for salaried retirees except those of certain acquired companies.
The following table sets forth the plans' combined status reconciled with the
accrued postretirement benefit cost included in the Company's Consolidated
Balance Sheets (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
------------------
1997 1996
------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Accumulated postretirement benefit
obligation
Retirees $ 86,336 $ 74,832
Fully eligible active participants 14,090 13,417
Other active participants 20,131 19,646
Total accumulated postretirement
benefit obligation 120,557 107,895
Unrecognized net gain 2,871 13,320
Unrecognized prior service cost 3,047 3,652
------------------
Accrued postretirement benefit cost $126,475 $124,867
==================
</TABLE>
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost includes the following components (in
thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
--------------------------
1997 1996 1995
--------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Service cost of benefits earned
during the period $1,624 $1,412 $1,285
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement
benefit obligation 7,989 7,683 8,046
Net amortization (846) (1,109) (1,390)
--------------------------
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost $8,767 $7,986 $7,941
==========================
</TABLE>
The assumed health care cost trend rate used in measuring the accumulated
postretirement benefit obligation differs between U.S. and Canadian plans. For
plans in both the U.S. and Canada, the pre-65 assumed rate was 9.5 percent,
decreasing to 5.5 percent over 10 years. For post-65 retirees in the U.S., the
assumed rate was 7.5 percent, decreasing to 5.5 percent over 10 years with a
Medicare assumed rate for the same group of 6.9 percent, decreasing to 5.5
percent over 10 years. For post-65 retirees in Canada the assumed rate was 9.2
percent, decreasing to 5.5 percent over 10 years. If the health care cost
trend rate assumptions were increased by one percent, the accumulated
postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 1997 would be increased by
8.4 percent. The effect of this change on the net periodic postretirement
benefit cost for 1997 would be an increase of 11.4 percent.
II-49
<PAGE> 73
For 1997 and 1996 the weighted average discount rates used to determine the
accumulated postretirement benefit obligations were 7.0 and 7.5 percent,
respectively, for U.S. plans and 6.75 and 7.5 percent, respectively, for
Canadian plans.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company leases office space and certain equipment. Total lease expenses for
1997, 1996 and 1995 were $12.0 million, $15.1 million and $14.1 million,
respectively. Future minimum annual lease commitments for all noncancelable
leases are as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
1998 $11,190
1999 10,281
2000 8,512
2001 7,783
2002 7,038
Thereafter 17,383
-------
Total $62,187
=======
</TABLE>
The Company self insures for workers' compensation, automobile and general
liability claims up to a maximum per claim. The undiscounted estimated
liability is accrued based on a determination by an outside actuary. This
determination is impacted by assumptions made and actual experience.
Since 1992, a number of owners of buildings located in eastern Ontario, Canada,
most of whom are residential homeowners, filed actions in the Ontario Court
(General Division) against Bertrand & Frere Construction Company Limited
(Bertrand) and a number of other defendants seeking damages as a result of
allegedly defective footings, foundations and floors made with ready-mixed
concrete supplied by Bertrand. There are presently approximately 168
plaintiffs whose claims involve 104 foundations, which are embodied in ten
lawsuits. In two of these actions, the plaintiffs have added LCI as a party
defendant; in the others, LCI is either a third or fourth party. The damages
claimed total more than Cdn. $62 million. In the largest of these actions,
approximately 119 plaintiffs are complaining about 81 basement foundations,
including a 20-unit condominium, and claiming approximately Cdn. $51.7 million,
each plaintiff seeking Cdn. $200,000 for costs of repairs and loss of capital
value of their respective home or building, Cdn. $200,000 for punitive and
exemplary damages and Cdn. $20,000 for hardship, inconvenience and mental
distress, together with interest and costs. LCI has also been served with
cross-claims or third or fourth party claims by Bertrand in the referenced
lawsuits. Bertrand is seeking indemnity for its liability to the owners as a
result of the supply by LCI of allegedly defective flyash. Bertrand amended
its claims to allege that the cement supplied by LCI is also defective. In
1995, the Ontario New Home Warranty Program instituted a lawsuit against
Bertrand, LCI and certain other defendants to recover approximately Cdn. $3
million in costs for replacing or repairing the foundations of 29 houses which
were covered under the warranty program. The amount of LCI's liability, if
any, is uncertain. LCI has denied liability and is defending the lawsuits
vigorously. It has introduced third and fourth party claims against its
insurers to have the insurance coverage issues dealt with by the Court at the
same time as the liability case. The Company believes it has substantial
insurance coverage that will respond to defense expenses and liability, if any,
in the lawsuits. Trial on
I-50
<PAGE> 74
this matter convened in early September 1997 and is expected to continue until
the second quarter of 1998.
In late August 1996 the Company, among others, was served with original
petitions from two sets of plaintiffs in two similar lawsuits brought in state
courts in Starr and Duval Counties, Texas. In the first suit, approximately
180 plaintiffs sued approximately 170 defendants involved in the production,
transportation and use of cement, concrete, additives, sand and gravel alleging
that these materials contain toxic substances, that the plaintiffs were exposed
to the toxic substances in their work areas where they breathe the fumes,
inhale the particles and absorb the materials from them which caused injury to
their respiratory and nervous systems and brain damage. The plaintiffs claim
negligence, gross negligence, and products and strict liability and seek, among
other things, both past and future damages, exemplary damages and cost of the
suit in an unspecified amount. In the second suit, approximately 70 plaintiffs
sued approximately 225 defendants alleging claims similar to those contained in
the first suit with an added claim that plaintiffs suffered exposure to
defendants' toxic substances in their homes. While the amount of liability, if
any, to the Company is uncertain, the Company filed general denials to both
suits in late October 1996 and is vigorously defending the lawsuits. Although
significant discovery and venue issues have been decided, plaintiffs have filed
motions in both cases seeking recusal of the presiding judge, this has
effectively stayed all progress in both cases pending resolution of the
motions.
The Company has been notified by the EPA that it is one of several potentially
responsible parties for clean-up costs at waste disposal sites. The ultimate
costs related to such matters and the Company's degree of responsibility in
some of these matters is not presently determinable.
When the Company determines that it is probable that a liability for
environmental matters or other legal actions has been incurred, an estimate of
the required remediation costs is recorded as a liability in the financial
statements. As of December 31, 1997 and 1996, the liabilities recorded for
environmental obligations are not material. Management has concluded that the
possibility that any material liability in excess of the amounts reported in
the balance sheet is remote.
In addition, the Company is involved in certain other legal actions and claims.
It is the opinion of management that all legal and environmental matters will
be resolved without material effect on the Company's consolidated financial
statements.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company is a participant to agreements with Lafarge S.A. for the sharing of
certain costs incurred for marketing, technical, research and managerial
assistance and for the use of certain trademarks. The net expenses accrued for
these services were $6.3 million, $5.7 million and $5.5 million during 1997,
1996 and 1995, respectively. In addition, the Company purchases various
products from Lafarge S.A. Such purchases totaled $52.5 million, $52.1 million
and $27.7 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. All transactions with
Lafarge S.A. were conducted on an arms-length basis.
Lafarge S.A. reinvested a portion of dividends it was entitled to receive on
the Company's common shares during 1997, 1996 and 1995. These reinvestments
totaled $3.9 million, $13.2 million and $12.4 million, respectively. The
Company's $50 million of short-term borrowings from Lafarge S.A. and its
subsidiaries at December 31, 1996 were repaid in 1997.
II-51
<PAGE> 75
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On March 17, 1998, the Company announced that it will purchase a number of
construction materials businesses from Lafarge S.A., its majority shareholder,
for approximately $690 million in cash. This purchase, which is subject to
execution of a definitive agreement and to meeting certain regulatory and
administrative requirements, includes the businesses of Western Mobile Inc. of
Denver, Colorado; Redland Genstar Inc. of Towson, Maryland; and Redland
Quarries Inc. of Hamilton, Ontario. The operations being acquired posted
combined revenues of more than $520 million in 1997.
Since the acquisition will be from its majority shareholder, it will be
accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling-of-interests. The tangible and
intangible assets and liabilities acquired will be transferred to the Company
at Lafarge S.A.'s historical book value on the date acquired by Lafarge S.A.
(December 1997). The Company expects to finance the acquisition with a
combination of cash, short-term debt and long-term debt.
On March 18, 1998, a shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed in Circuit Court
for Montgomery County, Maryland against all of the directors of the Company
alleging breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste, and gross negligence in
connection with the Company's planned purchase of a number of construction
materials businesses in North America from Lafarge S.A., its majority
shareholder (the "Transaction"). Lafarge S.A. took control of these businesses
in late 1997 when it acquired the British construction materials firm Redland
PLC. A special committee of independent directors of the Company's Board of
Directors was appointed to evaluate the Transaction. Based upon extensive due
diligence and the advice of independent professionals retained by the special
committee, including an investment banking firm which advised the committee
regarding the fairness of the price and terms of the proposed Transaction, the
special committee recommended the Transaction for approval by the full Board of
Directors of the Company. On March 16, 1998, the full Board, consisting of a
majority of independent directors, approved the Transaction and the Company
publicly announced the Transaction on March 17, 1998. The Company has been
advised that the directors believe that the lawsuit against them with respect
to the Transaction is without merit and intend to vigorously defend the
lawsuit.
II-52
<PAGE> 76
QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED)
The following table summarizes financial data by quarter for 1997 and 1996 (in
millions, except per share information):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
First Second Third Fourth Total
-------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1997
Net sales $244 $477 $612 $473 $1,806
Gross profit (loss) (11) 143 202 137 471
Net income (loss) (34) 60 97 59 182
Net income (loss) per
common equity share (a)
Basic (0.48) 0.84 1.36 0.83 2.56
Diluted (0.48) 0.84 1.35 0.82 2.54
=====================================
1996
Net sales $204 $421 $576 $448 $1,649
Gross profit (loss) (20) 114 182 121 397
Net income (loss) (38) 43 85 51 141
Net income (loss) per
common equity share (a)
Basic (0.55) 0.62 1.21 0.73 2.02
Diluted (0.55) 0.59 1.15 0.70 1.95
=====================================
</TABLE>
(a) The sum of these amounts does not equal the annual amount because of
changes in the average number of common equity shares outstanding during the
year.
II-53
<PAGE> 77
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None
II-54
<PAGE> 78
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY.
The section entitled "Election of Directors" appearing on pages 5 through 8 of
the Company's proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held
on May 5, 1998 sets forth certain information with respect to the directors and
nominees for election as directors of the Company and is incorporated herein by
reference. Certain information with respect to persons who are or may be
deemed to be executive officers of the Company is set forth under the caption
"Executive Officers of the Company" in Part I of this Annual Report.
III-1
<PAGE> 79
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The section entitled "Executive Compensation" appearing on pages 8 through 18
of the Company's proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be
held on May 5, 1998 sets forth certain information with respect to the
compensation of management of the Company, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
III-2
<PAGE> 80
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.
The sections entitled "Voting Securities", "Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners" and "Security Ownership of Management" appearing on pages 1
through 5 and "Election of Directors" appearing on pages 5 through 8 of the
Company's proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on
May 5, 1998 set forth certain information with respect to the ownership of the
Company's voting securities, and are incorporated herein by reference.
III-3
<PAGE> 81
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
The sections entitled "Executive Compensation - Indebtedness of Management" and
"Executive Compensation - Transactions with Management and Others" appearing on
page 18 of the Company's proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders
to be held on May 5, 1998 set forth certain information with respect to
relations of and transactions by management of the Company, and are
incorporated herein by reference.
III-4
<PAGE> 82
PART IV
Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM
8-K.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report:
1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Financial Statements filed as part of this
Form 10-K are listed under Part II, Item 8.
2. Financial Statement Schedule
<CAPTION>
Page Number
-----------
<S> <C> <C>
Consolidated Supporting Schedule
II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts IV-7
Schedules I, III, IV and V have been omitted because they are not applicable.
</TABLE>
IV-1
<PAGE> 83
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
3. EXHIBITS
--------
<S> <C>
3.1 Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, filed May
29, 1992 [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1992].
3.2 By-Laws of the Company, (as most recently amended on July 29,
1994) [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1994].
4.1 Form of Indenture dated as of October 1, 1989 between the
Company and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee, relating to $250 million
of debt securities of the Company [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Registration No. 33-31333) of the Company, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on October 3, 1989].
4.2 Form of Fixed Rate Medium-Term Note of the Company [incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-31333) of the Company, filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 3, 1989].
4.3 Instruments with respect to long-term debt which do not exceed
10 percent of the total assets of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries have not been filed. The Company
agrees to furnish a copy of such instruments to the Commission
upon request.
9.1 Trust Agreement dated as of October 13, 1927 among Canada Cement
Company Limited, Montreal Trust Company, Henry L. Doble and
Alban C. Bedford-Jones, as amended (composite copy)
[incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 2-82548) of the Company,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21,
1983].
9.2 Amendment dated June 10, 1983 to Trust Agreement filed as
Exhibit 9.1 [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9.2 to the
Registration Statement of Form S-1 (Registration No. 2-86589) of
the Company, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on September 16, 1983].
10.1 Exchange Agency and Trust Agreement dated as of May 1, 1983
among the Company, Canada Cement Lafarge, Lafarge Coppee and
Montreal Trust Company, as trustee [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Registration No. 2-82548) of the Company, filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 1983]. Canada
Cement Lafarge changed its name in 1988 to Lafarge Canada Inc.
Lafarge Coppee changed its name in 1995 to Lafarge S.A.
</TABLE>
IV-2
<PAGE> 84
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
10.2 Guarantee Agreement dated as of May 1, 1983 between the Company
and Canada Cement Lafarge [incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of Form
S-1 (Registration No. 2-82548) of the Company, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 1983].
10.3 Special Surface Lease dated as of August 1, 1954 between the
Province of Alberta and Canada Cement Lafarge, as amended
[incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 2-82548) of the Company,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21,
1983].
10.4 Director Fee Deferral Plan of the Company [incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Registration No. 2-86589) of the Company, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on September 16, 1983].
10.5 1993 Stock Option Plan of the Company, as amended and restated
February 7, 1995.
10.6. 1983 Stock Option Plan of the Company, as amended and restated
May 2, 1989 [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 28 to the
Company's report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
1989].
10.7 Optional Stock Dividend Plan of the Company [incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed by the Company for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1987].
10.8 Director Fee Deferral Plan of General Portland, assumed by the
Company on January 29, 1988 [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10(g) to the Annual Report on form 10-K filed by General
Portland for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1980].
10.9 Option Agreement for Common Stock dated as of November 1, 1993
between the Company and Lafarge Coppee [incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed by the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1993].
10.10 Deferred Compensation Program of Canada Cement Lafarge
[incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.57 to Amendment No. 1
to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
2-86589) of the Company, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on November 23, 1983].
10.11 Agreement dated November 8, 1983 between Canada Cement Lafarge
and Standard Industries Ltd. [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.58 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (Registration No. 2-86589) of the Company, filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 23,
1983].
</TABLE>
IV-3
<PAGE> 85
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
10.12 Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 17, 1986 between the
Company and Lafarge Coppee, S.A. [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit B to the Company's report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1986].
10.13 Cost Sharing Agreement dated December 2, 1988 between Lafarge
Coppee, LCI and the Company relating to expenses for research
and development, strategic planning and human resources and
communication techniques [incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.42 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1988].
10.14 Royalty Agreement dated December 2, 1988 between Lafarge Coppee,
LCI and the Company relating to access to the reputation, logo
and trademarks of Lafarge Coppee [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.43 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the
Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1988].
10.15 Amendment dated January 1, 1993 to Royalty Agreement filed as
Exhibit 10.14 [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1992].
10.16 Description of Nonemployee Director Retirement Plan of the
Company, effective January 1, 1989 [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.40 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the
Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1989].
10.17 Reimbursement Agreement dated January 1, 1990 between Lafarge
Coppee and the Company relating to expenses for Strategic
Planning and Communication techniques [incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.41 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the
Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1990].
10.18 Form of Revolving Credit Facility Agreements, dated as of
September 1, 1994, among the Company and nine separate banking
institutions [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1994].
10.19 Amendment dated September 13, 1991 to Cost Sharing Agreement
filed as Exhibit 10.13 [incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.31 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994].
10.20 Amendments dated June 1 and August 1, 1996 to Revolving Credit
Facility Agreements among the Company and six separate banking
institutions filed as Exhibit 10.18 [incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.20 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the
Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996].
</TABLE>
IV-4
<PAGE> 86
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
10.21 Cost Sharing Agreement dated January 2, 1996 between Lafarge
Materiaux de Specialities and the Company related to costs of a
new unit established for researching potential profitable
markets for their respective products in North America
[incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Annual Report
on Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996].
10.22 Marketing and Technical Assistance Agreement dated October 1,
1996 between Lafarge S.A. and the Company related to research
and development, marketing, strategic planning, human resources
and communication techniques in relation to gypsum activities
[incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Annual Report
on Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996].
10.23 Consulting Agreement between the Company and Robert Murdoch
dated October 1, 1997.
11 Statement regarding computation of net income per common equity
share.
21 Subsidiaries of the Company.
23 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K.
--------------------
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of
the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report.
</TABLE>
IV-5
<PAGE> 87
CONSOLIDATED SUPPORTING SCHEDULE
IV-6
<PAGE> 88
Schedule II
LAFARGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1996, 1995
(In Thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Additions Deductions
-------------- ------------------------------------
From Reserve
for Purposes
Balance at Charge to for Which
Beginning of Cost and Reserve Was Balance at End
Descriptions Year Expenses Created Other (1) of Year
- ------------------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ----------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Reserve applicable to
current receivable
For doubtful accounts:
1997 $ 18,793 $ 2,365 $ (3,177) $ (380) $ 17,601
1996 $ 20,685 $ 255 $ (2,108) $ (39) $ 18,793
1995 $ 22,698 $ 588 $ (2,843) $ 242 $ 20,685
For cash and other discounts:
1997 $ 3,750 $ 37,147 $(36,786) $ (929) $ 3,182
1996 $ 3,542 $ 30,909 $(30,583) $ (118) $ 3,750
1995 $ 5,649 $ 30,691 $(32,985) $ 187 $ 3,542
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) Primarily foreign currency translation adjustments
IV-7
<PAGE> 89
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this Annual Report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
LAFARGE CORPORATION
By: /s/ LARRY J. WAISANEN
--------------------------
Larry J. Waisanen
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Date: March 27, 1998
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of
the Company and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ JOHN M. PIECUCH President and Chief Executive March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------ Officer and Director
John M. Piecuch
/s/ LARRY J. WAISANEN Executive Vice President and Chief March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------ Financial Officer
Larry J. Waisanen
/s/ JOHN C. PORTER Vice President and Controller March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
John C. Porter
/s/ BERTRAND P. COLLOMB Chairman of the Board March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Bertrand P. Collomb
</TABLE>
IV-8
<PAGE> 90
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ THOMAS A. BUELL Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Thomas A. Buell
/s/ MARSHALL A. COHEN Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Marshall A. Cohen
/s/ PHILIPPE P. DAUMAN Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Philippe P. Dauman
/s/ BERNARD L. KASRIEL Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Bernard L. Kasriel
/s/ JACQUES LEFEVRE Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Jacques Lefevre
/s/ PAUL W. MACAVOY Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Paul W. MacAvoy
/s/ CLAUDINE B. MALONE Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Claudine B. Malone
/s/ ALONZO L. MCDONALD Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Alonzo L. McDonald
/s/ ROBERT W. MURDOCH Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Robert W. Murdoch
/s/ BERTIN F. NADEAU Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Bertin F. Nadeau
/s/ JOHN D. REDFERN Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
John D. Redfern
/s/ JOE M. RODGERS Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Joe M. Rodgers
</TABLE>
IV-9
<PAGE> 91
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ MICHEL ROSE Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Michel Rose
/s/ RONALD D. SOUTHERN Director March 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------
Ronald D. Southern
</TABLE>
IV-10
<PAGE> 92
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEQUENTIALLY
NUMBERED
EXHIBIT NUMBERS PAGES
- --------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
<S> <C>
3.1 Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, filed May
29, 1992 [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1992].
3.2 By-Laws of the Company, (as most recently amended on July 29,
1994) [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1994].
4.1 Form of Indenture dated as of October 1, 1989 between the
Company and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee, relating to $250 million
of debt securities of the Company [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Registration No. 33-31333) of the Company, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on October 3, 1989].
4.2 Form of Fixed Rate Medium-Term Note of the Company [incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-31333) of the Company, filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 3, 1989].
4.3 Instruments with respect to long-term debt which do not exceed
10 percent of the total assets of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries have not been filed. The Company
agrees to furnish a copy of such instruments to the Commission
upon request.
9.1 Trust Agreement dated as of October 13, 1927 among Canada Cement
Company Limited, Montreal Trust Company, Henry L. Doble and
Alban C. Bedford-Jones, as amended (composite copy)
[incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 2-82548) of the Company,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21,
1983].
9.2 Amendment dated June 10, 1983 to Trust Agreement filed as
Exhibit 9.1 [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9.2 to the
Registration Statement of Form S-1 (Registration No. 2-86589) of
the Company, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on September 16, 1983].
</TABLE>
IV-11
<PAGE> 93
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEQUENTIALLY
NUMBERED
EXHIBIT NUMBERS PAGES
- --------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
<S> <C>
10.1 Exchange Agency and Trust Agreement dated as of May 1, 1983
among the Company, Canada Cement Lafarge, Lafarge Coppee and
Montreal Trust Company, as trustee [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Registration No. 2-82548) of the Company, filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 1983]. Canada
Cement Lafarge changed its name in 1988 to Lafarge Canada Inc.
Lafarge Coppee changed its name in 1995 to Lafarge S.A.
10.2 Guarantee Agreement dated as of May 1, 1983 between the Company
and Canada Cement Lafarge [incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of Form
S-1 (Registration No. 2-82548) of the Company, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 1983].
10.3 Special Surface Lease dated as of August 1, 1954 between the
Province of Alberta and Canada Cement Lafarge, as amended
[incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 2-82548) of the Company,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21,
1983].
10.4 Director Fee Deferral Plan of the Company [incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Registration No. 2-86589) of the Company, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on September 16, 1983].
10.5* 1993 Stock Option Plan of the Company, as amended and restated
February 7, 1995.
10.6 1983 Stock Option Plan of the Company, as amended and restated
May 2, 1989 [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 28 to the
Company's report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
1989].
10.7 Optional Stock Dividend Plan of the Company [incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed by the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1987].
10.8 Director Fee Deferral Plan of General Portland, assumed by the
Company on January 29, 1988 [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit
</TABLE>
IV-12
<PAGE> 94
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEQUENTIALLY
NUMBERED
EXHIBIT NUMBERS PAGES
- --------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
<S> <C>
10(g) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by General
Portland for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1980].
10.9 Option Agreement for Common Stock dated as of November 1, 1993
between the Company and Lafarge Coppee [incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed by the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1993].
10.10 Deferred Compensation Program of Canada Cement Lafarge
[incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.57 to Amendment No. 1
to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
2-86589) of the Company, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on November 23, 1983].
10.11 Agreement dated November 8, 1983 between Canada Cement Lafarge
and Standard Industries Ltd. [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.58 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (Registration No. 2-86589) of the Company, filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 23,
1983].
10.12 Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 17, 1986 between the
Company and Lafarge Coppee, S.A. [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit B to the Company's report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1986].
10.13 Cost Sharing Agreement dated December 2, 1988 between Lafarge
Coppee, LCI and the Company relating to expenses for research
and development, strategic planning and human resources and
communication techniques [incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.42 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1988].
10.14 Royalty Agreement dated December 2, 1988 between Lafarge Coppee,
LCI and the Company relating to access to the reputation, logo
and trademarks of Lafarge Coppee [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.43 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the
Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1988].
10.15 Amendment dated January 1, 1993 to Royalty Agreement filed as
Exhibit 10.14 [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1992].
</TABLE>
IV-13
<PAGE> 95
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEQUENTIALLY
NUMBERED
EXHIBIT NUMBERS PAGES
- --------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
<S> <C>
10.16 Description of Nonemployee Director Retirement Plan of the
Company, effective January 1, 1989 [incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.40 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the
Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1989].
10.17 Reimbursement Agreement dated January 1, 1990 between Lafarge
Coppee and the Company relating to expenses for Strategic
Planning and Communication techniques [incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.41 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the
Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1990].
10.18 Form of Revolving Credit Facility Agreements, dated as of
September 1, 1994, among the Company and nine separate banking
institutions [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1994].
10.19 Amendment dated September 13, 1991 to Cost Sharing Agreement
filed as Exhibit 10.13 [incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.31 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994].
10.20 Amendments dated June 1 and August 1, 1996 to Revolving Credit
Facility Agreements among the Company and six separate banking
institutions filed as Exhibit 10.18 [incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.20 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the
Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996].
10.21 Cost Sharing Agreement dated January 2, 1996 between Lafarge
Materiaux de Specialities and the Company related to costs of a
new unit established for researching potential profitable
markets for their respective products in North America
[incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Annual Report
on Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996].
10.22 Marketing and Technical Assistance Agreement dated October 1,
1996 between Lafarge S.A. and the Company related to research
and development, marketing, strategic planning, human resources
and communication techniques in relation to gypsum activities
[incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Annual Report
on
</TABLE>
IV-14
<PAGE> 96
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEQUENTIALLY
NUMBERED
EXHIBIT NUMBERS PAGES
- --------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
<S> <C>
Form 10-K filed by the Company for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996].
10.23* Consulting Agreement between the Company and Robert Murdoch
dated October 1, 1997.
11* Statement regarding computation of net income per common equity
share.
21* Subsidiaries of the Company.
23* Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants.
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Filed herewith
IV-15
<PAGE> 1
LAFARGE CORPORATION
1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
[AS AMENDED AND RESTATED FEBRUARY 7, 1995]
SECTION I. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Lafarge Corporation 1993 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan")
is to encourage and enable nonemployee directors of Lafarge Corporation (the
"Company") and key employees of the Company and its subsidiary corporations
("Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries") as defined under Section 424(f) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), upon whose judgment, initiative
and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its
business, to remain with and devote their best efforts to the business of the
Company, thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Accordingly, the Company may grant to certain employees the option to purchase
shares of the Common Stock of the Company, par value $1.00 per share ("Stock"),
and may award bonuses in the form of Stock subject to the restrictions set forth
in Section IX ("Restricted Stock"), as hereinafter set forth. Options to
purchase shares of Stock shall be granted automatically, as hereinafter set
forth, to members of the Board of Directors of the Company who are not officers
or employees of the Company or any Subsidiary ("Nonemployee Directors"). Options
granted to employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries and options granted to
Nonemployee Directors are referred to herein as "Employee Options" and "Director
Options", respectively, and collectively as "Options". Options granted under the
Plan shall be nonqualified stock options which shall not be treated as incentive
stock options under Section 422 of the Code.
SECTION II. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
The Plan shall be administered by a committee (the "Committee") of three or
more directors of the Company appointed by the Board of Directors. Members of
the Committee shall not, within one year prior to their appointment to the
Committee, have been granted or awarded equity securities pursuant to the Plan
(other than pursuant to Section X hereof) or pursuant to any other stock option
or stock plan of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the
Company (an "Affiliate") within the meaning of Section 424(e) and (f) of the
Code.
The Committee shall have sole authority to determine the employees who are
to be granted Employee Options or stock appreciation rights or awarded
Restricted Stock from among those eligible hereunder and to establish the number
of shares of Stock to be optioned to each, the number of stock appreciation
rights to be granted to each, and the number of shares to be awarded to each in
the form of Restricted Stock after taking into consideration the position held,
the duties performed, the compensation received, the services expected to be
rendered by such employee and other relevant factors. The Committee is
authorized to interpret the Plan, and may from time to time adopt such rules and
regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as it may deem
advisable to carry out the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee shall
have no authority, discretion or power to select the persons who will receive
Director Options, to set the number of shares to be covered by any Director
Option, to set the exercise price or the period within which Director Options
may be exercised or to alter any other terms or conditions specified herein,
except in the sense of administering the Plan subject to the express provisions
hereof. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and the acts of a
majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, or
acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee, shall be deemed the
acts of the Committee. All decisions made by the Committee in selecting the
employees to whom Employee Options and stock appreciation rights shall be
granted or Restricted Stock shall be awarded, in establishing the number of
shares which may be issued under each Employee Option or awarded as Restricted
Stock to employees and in construing the provisions of the Plan shall be final.
No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action taken, failure to act,
A-1
<PAGE> 2
determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or
any Option or stock appreciation right granted or Restricted Stock awarded under
the Plan.
SECTION III. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
The aggregate number of shares of Stock issued under Options or awarded in
the form of Restricted Stock under this Plan shall not exceed 3,000,000 shares.
Such shares of Stock may consist of authorized but unissued shares of Stock or
previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company. Any of such shares
of Stock which remain unissued and which are not subject to outstanding Options
and have not been awarded in the form of Restricted Stock at the termination of
the Plan shall cease to be subject to the Plan. Should any Option hereunder
expire or terminate prior to its exercise in full, or any Stock previously
awarded as Restricted Stock be forfeited, the shares of Stock subject to such
Option at the time of its expiration or termination and the shares of Restricted
Stock so forfeited will again be available for grant or award under the Plan.
The aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be issued under the Plan shall
be subject to adjustment as provided in Section XI hereof. Exercise of an Option
in any manner, including an exercise involving an election of an alternative
settlement method referred to in Section VII hereof, shall result in a decrease
in the number of shares of Stock which may thereafter be available for purposes
of the Plan by the number of shares of Stock as to which the Option is
exercised.
SECTION IV. ELIGIBILITY
The Committee shall determine and designate, at any time or from time to
time, the key employees of the Company and the Subsidiaries to whom Employee
Options are to be granted or Restricted Stock is to be awarded, but subject to
the terms and conditions set forth below:
(a) The Committee may authorize the grant of Employee Options and the
award of Restricted Stock only to individuals who are key employees
(including officers and directors who are also key employees) of the
Company or a Subsidiary at the time the Option is granted or the Restricted
Stock is awarded. Options may be granted or Restricted Stock awarded to the
same employee on more than one occasion.
(b) The aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be issued under
Employee Options granted or Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan to any
one employee shall not exceed the lesser of 500,000 shares or 5% of the
outstanding shares of Stock.
SECTION V. OPTION PRICE
The Option price per share of Stock underlying each Employee Option shall
be fixed by the Committee at the time the Option is granted, but shall not be
less than 100% of the fair market value of the Stock at the time of the granting
of the Option. The Option price per share of Stock underlying each Director
Option shall be 100% of the fair market value of the Stock at the time of the
granting of the Option. For purposes of the Plan, the fair market value of Stock
on any particular date shall be the mean of the high and low sales prices of
publicly traded shares of Stock on the date in question as reported on the
Composite Transactions reporting system or, if the Stock is listed on a U.S.
national securities exchange, the last sales price reported on such exchange on
that date, provided, that if there are no sales of Stock on the date in
question, then such determination shall be made on the basis of sales of Stock
on the last preceding date for which such sales are reported.
SECTION VI. OPTION TERM
The expiration date of an Employee Option shall be determined by the
Committee at the time of grant, but shall in no event be later than ten years
from the date of grant. The expiration date of each Director Option shall be the
date that is ten years from the date of grant.
A-2
<PAGE> 3
SECTION VII. OPTION AGREEMENTS
Each Option shall be evidenced by an option agreement ("Option Agreement")
and shall contain such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions
of the Plan as may be approved by the Committee. The terms and conditions of the
respective Option Agreements evidencing Employee Options need not be identical
and may be amended by the Committee from time to time, subject to the provisions
of the Plan. The terms and conditions of the respective Option Agreements
evidencing Director Options shall be identical, to the extent practicable, and
may be amended by the Committee as necessary to ensure compliance with the
provisions of the Plan. Payment of the purchase price of any Option exercised
shall be made to the Company either (i) in cash (including check, bank draft or
money order) or (ii) by delivering shares of Stock already owned by the optionee
and which have been owned for at least six (6) months, duly endorsed for
transfer or (iii) a combination of such Stock and cash. The fair market value of
any Stock so delivered shall be determined on the same basis as provided in
Section V hereof. An Option Agreement evidencing an Employee Option may provide
for the surrender of the right to purchase shares of Stock under the Option in
return for a payment in cash or shares of Stock or a combination of cash and
shares of Stock equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of
Stock with respect to which the right to purchase is surrendered over the Option
price therefor, on such terms and conditions as the Committee in its sole
discretion may prescribe.
SECTION VIII. EXERCISE OF EMPLOYEE OPTIONS
(a) Each Employee Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable during
such period commencing on or after the expiration of one year from the date of
the grant of such Option as the Committee shall determine; provided, however,
that the otherwise unexpired portion of any Employee Option shall expire and
become null and void no later than upon the first to occur of (i) the expiration
of ten years from the date such Option was granted, (ii) the expiration of three
months from the date of the termination of the optionee's employment with the
Company or an Affiliate for any reason other than death, disability or
retirement under the normal or early retirement provisions of a pension or
retirement plan maintained by the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) the
expiration of three years from the date of the termination of the optionee's
employment with the Company or an Affiliate by reason of death, disability or
retirement under the normal or early retirement provisions of a pension or
retirement plan maintained by the Company or an Affiliate. Transfer of
employment without interruption of service between or among the Company and its
Affiliates shall not be considered to be a termination of employment for the
purposes of this Plan. Any provision of this Plan to the contrary
notwithstanding, the otherwise unexpired portion of any Employee Option granted
hereunder shall expire and become null and void immediately upon an optionee's
termination of employment with the Company or an Affiliate by reason of such
optionee's fraud, dishonesty or performance of other acts detrimental to the
Company or an Affiliate.
(b) Each Employee Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable in full or
in such annual installments as may be determined by the Committee at the time of
the grant; provided, however, that the Committee in its discretion may
subsequently accelerate the exercise date of an Employee Option. The right to
purchase shares of Stock shall be cumulative so that when the right to purchase
any shares of Stock has accrued, such shares or any part thereof may be
purchased at any time thereafter until the expiration or termination of the
Employee Option.
(c) If the Committee grants stock appreciation rights in connection with an
Employee Option, either at the time of grant or by amendment, such rights shall
be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related Option and shall be
exercisable only to the extent the Option is exercisable. Stock appreciation
rights shall be granted only in connection with an Employee Option. A right
shall entitle the optionee to surrender to the Committee the related unexercised
Option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange
therefor cash, shares of Stock, or a combination of cash and Stock, having an
aggregate value equal to (i) the excess of the fair market value of one share of
Stock over the Option price, times (ii) the number of shares of Stock called for
by the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. The number of shares of
Stock which may be received pursuant to the exercise of a right may not exceed
the number of shares of Stock called for by the Option, or portion thereof,
which is surrendered. No fractional shares of Stock will be issued. The
Committee shall have the right to determine whether the Company's obligation
shall be paid in cash,
A-3
<PAGE> 4
shares of Stock, or a combination of cash and Stock. The Committee may establish
a maximum appreciation value which would be awardable under any granted right or
rights.
(d) No Employee Option or stock appreciation right granted under the Plan
shall be transferable by the holder thereof otherwise than by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the lifetime
of the optionee only by him or her.
(e) Nothing in this Section shall operate to extend the period of exercise
of an Employee Option beyond the expiration date specified in the Option
Agreement.
SECTION IX. RESTRICTED STOCK
The Committee may from time to time, in its sole discretion, award bonuses
in the form of Restricted Stock to persons eligible to receive awards of
Restricted Stock under Section IV. All Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan
shall be subject to such restrictions, terms and conditions, if any, as may be
determined by the Committee. The Committee may in its sole discretion remove,
modify or accelerate the release of restrictions on any Restricted Stock in the
event of death or disability of the recipient of such Restricted Stock, or for
such other reasons as the Committee may deem appropriate. Nonemployee Directors
shall not be eligible to receive awards of Restricted Stock under this Plan.
Any certificate or certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock
shall bear a stamped or printed notice on the face thereof to the effect that
such shares have been awarded pursuant to the terms of the Plan and may not be
sold, pledged, transferred, assigned or otherwise encumbered in any manner
except as set forth in the terms of such award. If the Committee so determines,
the certificates representing Restricted Stock shall be deposited by the
recipient with the Company or an escrow agent designated by the Company until
the restrictions thereon have lapsed or have been removed in accordance with the
provisions of this Section. Upon the lapse of the restrictions or removal
thereof by the Committee, new unrestricted certificates for the number of shares
on which the restrictions have lapsed or been removed shall, upon request by the
recipient of the Restricted Stock, be issued in exchange for such restricted
certificates.
SECTION X. DIRECTOR OPTIONS
In addition to the other provisions of this Plan relating to Director
Options, the following provisions shall govern the grant and exercise of
Director Options under the Plan:
(a) Director Options shall be granted to Nonemployee Directors in
accordance with the following, provided, however, that a Nonemployee Director
may decline to accept any Director Option by giving notice to such effect to the
Committee or by refusing to execute an Option Agreement relating to the Option:
(1) a Director Option representing the right to purchase 5,000 shares
of Stock shall be granted effective as of the date of the meeting of the
Committee held in February 1995 to each person serving as a Nonemployee
Director on such date;
(2) a Director Option representing the right to purchase 5,000 shares
of Stock shall be granted automatically to each Nonemployee Director who
was not granted a Director Option under subsection (a)(1), on and effective
as of the date on which such person is first elected or appointed to serve
as a Nonemployee Director, provided, that if a Nonemployee Director who has
received a Director Option under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this
Section X ceases serving as a director and is subsequently elected or
appointed as a Nonemployee Director, he or she shall not receive a second
Director Option pursuant to this subsection (a)(2); and
(3) a Director Option representing the right to purchase 1,000 shares
of Stock shall be granted automatically on and effective as of the date of
the first meeting of the Committee in each year, beginning with the year
1996, to each person who is a Nonemployee Director of the Company on such
date (including persons who have previously received Director Options under
this Plan);
provided, however, that if as of the effective date of any grant of Director
Options there are not sufficient shares available under the Plan to allow for
the grant to each Nonemployee Director of a Director Option for
A-4
<PAGE> 5
the number of shares provided herein, then each Nonemployee Director shall be
granted an option for a pro rata portion of the total number of shares then
available (disregarding fractional shares).
(b) Each Director Option shall vest in accordance with the following:
(1) one-fourth of the shares subject to the Director Option shall be
vested at the date of grant of the Director Option for each continuous full
year of service by the grantee on the Board of Directors of the Company
prior to such date of grant; and
(2) if the Director Option is not fully vested on the date of grant,
one-fourth of the Shares subject thereto shall vest on each anniversary of
the date of commencement of the grantee's service on the Board of Directors
of the Company until the Director Option is fully vested, provided,
however, that no portion of any Director Option shall vest after the
Nonemployee Director's service on the Board of Directors has terminated for
any reason.
Each Director Option shall be exercisable in whole at any time and in part from
time to time to the extent such Director Option has vested in accordance with
the foregoing; provided, however, that the otherwise unexpired portion of any
Director Option shall expire and become null and void no later than upon the
first to occur of (i) the expiration of ten years from the date such option was
granted, (ii) the expiration of three months from the date of the termination of
the Nonemployee Director's service on the Board of Directors of the Company for
any reason other than death or retirement under the normal or early retirement
provisions of any retirement plan maintained by the Company for Nonemployee
Directors or (iii) the expiration of three years from the date of the
termination of the Nonemployee Director's service on the Board of Directors of
the Company by reason of death or retirement under the normal or early
retirement provisions of any retirement plan maintained by the Company for
Nonemployee Directors. Any provision of this Plan to the contrary
notwithstanding, the otherwise unexpired portion of any Director Option granted
hereunder shall expire and become null and void immediately upon termination of
the Nonemployee Director's service on the Board of Directors if such termination
occurs by reason of such Nonemployee Director's (i) fraud or intentional
misrepresentation or (ii) embezzlement, misappropriation or conversion of assets
or opportunities of the Company or any Affiliate. The right to purchase shares
of Stock shall be cumulative so that when the right to purchase any shares of
Stock has accrued, such shares or any part thereof may be purchased at any time
thereafter until the expiration or termination of the Director Option.
(c) Stock appreciation rights shall not be granted in connection with
Director Options.
(d) No Director Option granted under the Plan shall be transferrable by the
holder thereof otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution, and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the optionee only
by him or her.
(e) The aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be issued under
Director Options granted under the Plan to any one Nonemployee Director shall
not exceed the lesser of 20,000 shares or 5% of the outstanding shares of Stock.
(f) Nothing in this Section shall operate to extend the period of exercise
of a Director Option beyond the expiration date specified in the Option
Agreement.
SECTION XI. ADJUSTMENTS UPON RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION
In the event the Company shall effect a split of the Stock or dividend
payable in Stock (other than pursuant to the Company's Optional Stock Dividend
Plan), or in the event the outstanding Stock shall be combined into a smaller
number of shares, the maximum number of shares of Stock as to which Options may
be granted and Restricted Stock may be awarded under the Plan shall be increased
or decreased proportionately. In the event that before delivery by the Company
of all of the shares of Stock in respect of which any Option or stock
appreciation right has been granted under the Plan, the Company shall have
effected such a split, dividend or combination, the shares of Stock still
subject to the Option or stock appreciation right shall be increased or
decreased proportionately and the purchase price per share of Stock shall be
decreased or
A-5
<PAGE> 6
increased proportionately so that the aggregate purchase price for all of the
then optioned shares of Stock shall remain the same as immediately prior to such
split, dividend or combination.
In the event of a reclassification of the Stock not covered by the
foregoing, or in the event of a liquidation or reorganization, including a
merger, consolidation or sale of assets, the Board of Directors shall make such
adjustments, if any, as it may deem appropriate in the number and kind of shares
for which Options, stock appreciation rights or Restricted Stock may be granted
or awarded under the Plan and, with respect to outstanding Options and stock
appreciation rights, in the number, purchase price and kind of shares covered
thereby. The provisions of this Section shall only be applicable if, and only to
the extent that, the application thereof does not conflict with any valid
governmental statute, regulation or rule.
SECTION XII. CONTINUANCE OF EMPLOYMENT OR BOARD MEMBERSHIP
Neither the Plan nor any agreement relating to any Option, stock
appreciation right or award of Restricted Stock shall impose any obligation on
the Company or an Affiliate to continue to employ any employee or to permit any
Nonemployee Director to continue as a director of the Company.
SECTION XIII. WITHHOLDING
The Company shall have the right to withhold taxes, as required by law,
from any transfer of cash or Stock to an employee under the Plan or to collect,
as a condition of such transfer, any taxes required by law to be withheld.
(a) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section, at
any time when an employee is required to pay to the Company an amount required
to be withheld under applicable tax laws in connection with an issuance of Stock
upon exercise of an Employee Option or stock appreciation right, the employee
may satisfy this obligation in whole or in part by electing (the "Election") to
have the Company withhold from the issuance shares of Stock having a fair market
value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The value of the shares of
Stock to be withheld shall be based on the fair market value of such shares as
of the date on which shares of Stock are issued to the employee pursuant to
exercise of the Option or stock appreciation right (the "Tax Date"). The
employee must pay to the Company any difference between the amount required to
be withheld by the Company and the value of the shares of Stock so withheld. Any
shares of Stock withheld shall not thereafter be available to be subject to an
Option granted under the Plan.
(b) Each Election must be made prior to the Tax Date. The Committee may
disapprove of any Election, may suspend or terminate the right to make Elections
and may provide with respect to any Employee Option or stock appreciation right
that the right to make Elections shall not apply to such Option or stock
appreciation right. An Election is irrevocable.
(c) If an employee is an officer or director of the Company within the
meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, then an Election is subject to the following
additional conditions:
(1) No Election shall be effective with respect to a Tax Date which
occurs within six months of the grant of the Option or stock appreciation
right, except that this limitation shall not apply in the event the death
or disability of the employee occurs prior to expiration of the six-month
period.
(2) The Election must be made either six months prior to the Tax Date
or during a period beginning on the third business day following the date
of release for publication of the Company's quarterly or annual summary
statements of sales and earnings and ending on the twelfth business day
following such date.
SECTION XIV. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
The Board of Directors in its discretion may terminate the Plan at any time
with respect to any shares of Stock for which Options have not theretofore been
granted or which have not been awarded as Restricted Stock. The Board of
Directors shall have the right to alter or amend the Plan or any part thereof
from time to
A-6
<PAGE> 7
time; provided, that no such change may be made which would impair the rights of
the optionee under any outstanding Option or the recipient of Restricted Stock
without the consent of such optionee or recipient; and provided, further, that
the Board of Directors may not make any alteration or amendment which would
materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the Plan,
increase the aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to
the provisions of the Plan, or materially modify the requirements for
participation in the Plan without the approval of the stockholders of the
Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section XIV, the
provisions of the Plan governing (a) the number of Director Options to be
awarded to Nonemployee Directors, (b) the number of shares of Stock to be
covered by each such Director Option, (c) the exercise price per share under
each Director Option, (d) when and under what circumstances Director Options
will be granted and (e) the period within which Director Options may be
exercised, shall not be amended or altered more than once every six months,
other than to comport with changes in the Code or the rules promulgated
thereunder.
SECTION XV. EFFECTIVENESS AND EXPIRATION OF THE PLAN
If adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by the vote of the
holders of a majority of the stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon at a
meeting of stockholders duly called and held for such purpose, or at an annual
meeting thereof, the notice of which has specified that action is to be taken on
the Plan, and the Committee shall have been advised by legal counsel for the
Company that in the opinion of such counsel all applicable requirements of law
precedent to its becoming effective have been fully met, then the Plan shall
become effective on August 4, 1993 or as soon thereafter as the aforesaid
requirements have been met. The Plan shall expire five years after the effective
date of the Plan. If the stockholders of the Company fail so to approve the
Plan, the Plan shall thereupon terminate and all Options previously granted and
all awards of Restricted Stock under the Plan shall become void and of no
effect. The provisions of the Plan relating to Director Options shall become
effective as of the date of the meeting of the Committee held in February 1995
if such provisions are adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by the
stockholders of the Company in the manner specified in the first sentence of
this Section XV. If the stockholders of the Company fail so to approve such
provisions, such provisions and all conforming and other amendments to the Plan
adopted by the Board of Directors in connection therewith shall thereupon
terminate and all Director Options previously granted under the Plan, as amended
thereby, shall become void and of no effect. With respect to persons subject to
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), transactions
under the Plan are intended to comply with applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3
or its successors under the 1934 Act. To the extent any provisions of the Plan
or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void,
to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee or by the
Board of Directors.
A-7
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10.23
October 1, 1997
Mr. Robert Murdoch
706 S. Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Dear Bob:
This letter is to confirm our mutual understandings with respect to the terms
and conditions upon which you agree to perform certain professional consulting
services for Lafarge Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Lafarge") with
respect to various present and future businesses of Lafarge. Your services as a
consultant with regard to such businesses will require the application of your
knowledge of the cement, aggregate and concrete businesses as well as your
intimate familiarity with Lafarge.
Consulting services means that you are to provide Lafarge with the full benefit
of your knowledge, experience, and skill with respect to all questions and
problems which Lafarge specifies with respect to its businesses and that you
are to provide Lafarge with your analysis, advice and comments.
Your consulting services as rendered under this Agreement may be made available
to Lafarge or any of its divisions or subsidiaries.
The term of this Agreement shall be for three contract years which shall
commence October 1, 1997 and shall continue thereafter until September 30, 2000
subject to termination without prior notice by reason of your death or
incapacity or inability (determined solely by Lafarge) to perform such
services. Lafarge shall also have the right to terminate this Agreement in the
event that you accept employment or fees from any competitor of Lafarge or its
subsidiaries in connection with Lafarge's businesses without the prior written
approval of Lafarge.
Your services in a consulting capacity under this Agreement shall be performed
under the direction of John Piecuch, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Lafarge or such other person or persons designated by him.
During the term of this Agreement Lafarge will pay you compensation of $4,000
per day not to exceed $100,000 per contract year nor $300,000 in the aggregate
during the term of this Agreement. The terms "day" and "contract year" shall
have the following meanings: a "day" shall be a period of no less than 4 hours
nor more than 14 hours in a continuous 24 hour period and a "contract year"
shall be a twelve month period beginning on October 1, and running to September
30.
<PAGE> 2
Inasmuch as in the rendering of your consulting services you will require
secret and confidential information and data concerning the operations of, or
belonging to, Lafarge, its subsidiaries and any other companies with whom
Lafarge or any subsidiary has an existing or proposed business relationship,
and additional information and data will be made available to you or be
developed by you, you agree to treat all such information and data as Lafarge's
confidential property and not to divulge it to others at any time or to use it
for your private purposes or otherwise except on behalf of Lafarge, without the
prior written consent of Lafarge, unless and until such information becomes a
part of the public domain (other than as a result of a breach of this agreement
by you) or you legally acquire such information, without restriction on
disclosure, from sources other than Lafarge, its subsidiaries, associated
companies or other companies with whom Lafarge or any subsidiary has a business
relationship. This obligation on your part to keep such information and data
confidential shall continue for five (5) years beyond and after the period of
your consulting services and upon the completion or termination of your
services, and at any time Lafarge so requests, you will deliver to Lafarge all
notes, memoranda, records, drawings, sketches or other documents (including all
copies and reproductions thereof) in connection with any information you have
access to or have developed due to your services hereunder.
You will not, without Lafarge's prior written consent, during the term of this
Agreement, for your own account or as an officer, member, employee, consultant,
representative, or advisor of any other person, corporation, partnership, or
organization, engage in or contribute your knowledge of marketing, development,
manufacture research (including without limitation market as well as technical
research) or sales relating to any products, equipment, processes, the sale or
acquisition by Lafarge of any assets or businesses, material that is or was
involved in any work or services performed pursuant to this Agreement or at any
other time by you for Lafarge or any subsidiary. However, the foregoing
sentence shall not prohibit you from engaging in any work at any time following
your retirement as a director of Lafarge upon your furnishing proof
satisfactory to Lafarge that information or data acquired or learned by you
during the period of this Agreement or at any time previously which Lafarge
considers secret or confidential to Lafarge or any subsidiary will not be
involved. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as limiting to any
extent your continuing obligations pursuant to the preceding paragraph.
If Lafarge requires you to travel away from your usual place of residence or
business, Lafarge will reimburse you for the reasonable traveling and living
expenses actually incurred by you upon the submission by you and approval by
Lafarge of any itemized account of the travel expenses for which you seek
reimbursement. You shall submit your statement for services rendered and your
itemized account for the expenses incurred within fifteen days of the month
following any month within which you have rendered services and/or have such
expenses. Bills for such services must specify the amount charged for each
project on which such services were performed.
In performing consulting services hereunder, your status will be that of an
independent contractor and not that of an agent, employee or part time employee
and you will not be entitled to any of the benefits available to the employees
of Lafarge. You will also be responsible for the payment of all taxes
applicable to payments made by Lafarge to you. This Agreement, however, shall
not
<PAGE> 3
affect any rights which you may now have or hereafter have under any retirement
or pension plan of Lafarge or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
You agree to disclose to Lafarge only such information as you are legally free
to disclose and agree that Lafarge shall have the right without any payment to
you in addition to that set forth above to freely use any and all information
disclosed by you to Lafarge.
You agree that any and all inventions, discoveries, whether or not patentable,
which (i) you conceive and/or make within the period of your consulting
services to Lafarge which are related to any question or problem with respect
to which your consulting services are utilized under this Agreement; or (ii) in
any way are based upon or embody any confidential or secret information or data
acquired directly or indirectly from Lafarge, its subsidiaries or associated
companies or which is developed by you as a result of the performance of
services pursuant to this Agreement shall be the sole and exclusive property of
Lafarge and you will, upon request by Lafarge, promptly execute any and all
applications, assignments or other instruments which Lafarge shall deem
necessary or useful in order to apply for, obtain and enforce both domestic and
foreign letters patent and/or in order to assign and convey to Lafarge the sole
and exclusive right, title and interest in and to said inventions, discoveries,
patents, applications and patents thereon. Lafarge agrees that it shall bear
the cost of preparation of all such patent applications and assignments and the
cost of prosecution of all such patent applications.
As used in this Agreement the term "subsidiary" shall mean any corporation,
partnership, joint venture or other type of business organization or
arrangement in which Lafarge now or hereafter, directly or indirectly, controls
or owns at least a 50% interest.
This Agreement shall be binding and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and, except as regards personal services, shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the successors, heirs and legal representatives of the parties.
This Agreement shall be interpreted and construed under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
If the foregoing terms and conditions are acceptable to you please indicate
your agreement by executing this letter in duplicate at the place indicated
below, whereupon this letter shall constitute the Agreement between you and
Lafarge with respect to your consulting services.
Very truly yours,
LAFARGE CORPORATION
By:
----------------------------
Accepted and Agreed to this __ day of _____, 1997:
- ------------------------------------
Robert W. Murdoch
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 11
LAFARGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME PER COMMON EQUITY SHARE
(Unaudited and in thousands except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31
----------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
----------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Basic Calculation
Net income applicable to common equity shareholders $ 181,976 $140,866 $129,613
========================================
Weighted average number of common equity shares outstanding 71,128 69,783 68,666
========================================
Basic net income per common equity share $ 2.56 $ 2.02 $ 1.89
========================================
Diluted Calculation
Net income $ 181,976 $140,866 $129,613
Add after tax interest expense applicable to 7% Convertible Debentures --- 4,153 4,473
----------------------------------------
Net income assuming Dilution $ 181,976 $145,019 $134,086
========================================
Weighted average number of common equity shares outstanding 71,128 69,783 68,666
Net effect of dilutive stock options based on the treasury stock method 567 309 318
Add additional shares assuming conversion of 7% Convertible Debentures --- 4,285 4,520
----------------------------------------
Weighted average number of common equity shares assuming full conversion
of all potentially dilutive securities 71,695 74,377 73,504
========================================
Diluted net income per common equity share $ 2.54 $ 1.95 $ 1.82
========================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 21
MAJOR SUBSIDIARIES OF LAFARGE CORPORATION
The following indicates the corporate names (and all other significant names,
if any, under which business is conducted) and jurisdictions of incorporation
of the subsidiaries of Lafarge Corporation, all of which are wholly owned or
majority owned. Indirect subsidiaries of Lafarge Corporation are indented and
listed following their direct parent corporations.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Jurisdiction
Name(s) of Incorporation
- -------------------------------------------- ----------------
<S> <C>
American Transport Leasing, Inc. Delaware
Cement Transport, Ltd. North Dakota
Friday Harbor Sand & Gravel Co. Washington
International Atlantins Insurance Company Vermont
Lafarge Dakota Inc. North Dakota
Lafarge Florida Inc. Florida
National Minerals Corporation Minnesota
Systech Environmental Corporation Delaware
Tews Company Delaware
Walter N. Handy Co., Inc. Missouri
Lafarge Canada Inc. Canada
Allan G. Cook Limited Ontario
Gestion Carim Inc. Quebec
International Atlantins Agencies Inc. British Columbia
Johnson Concrete & Material Ltd. Saskatchewan
Lulu Transport Inc. British Columbia
N C Rubber Products Inc. Ontario
North Western Concrete Limited Ontario
Quality Ready-Mix Limited Ontario
Re-Wa Holdings Ltd. Alberta
Richvale York Block Inc. Ontario
Les sablieres Forestville Inc. Quebec
Standard Paving Maritime Limited Nova Scotia
Valley Rite-Mix Ltd. British Columbia
</TABLE>
Lafarge Corporation also does business under the following names: Florida
Portland Cement Company, Lafarge Construction Materials, Lafarge Gypsum,
Trinity Portland Cement Company.
Lafarge Canada Inc. also does business under the following names: Alberta
Concrete Products, Apex Gravel, Bestpipe, Brunswick Ready Mix Concrete, Canada
Concrete, Capital Concrete, Challenge Concrete, Champion Concrete, Cinq
Concrete, Coldstream Concrete, Columbia Concrete, Conmac Western Industries,
Consolidated Sand & Gravel Company, Construction Chemicals, Country Building
Supplies, Crown Equipment, Crown Paving and Engineering, Duracon, Forbes Ready
Mix, Francon-Lafarge, Guelph Sand and Gravel, Great Lakes Flyash, High River
Concrete, Johnston Ready Mix, Lafarge Concrete, Lafarge Construction Materials,
Lethbridge Concrete Products, Manitoulin Precast, Maritime Cement, Masonry
Products, Nelson Aggregate Co., O.K. Construction Materials, Permanent-Lafarge,
Red-D-Mix Block, Redmond Sand & Gravel, Richvale - McCord, Richvale - York,
Rocky Mountain Precast, Spartan Explosives, Standard Aggregates, Standard
Asphalt, Supercrete, Trans-Alta Flyash.
Information regarding 60 additional subsidiaries of the Registrant has been
omitted because such subsidiaries, considered in the aggregate as a single
subsidiary, do not constitute a "significant subsidiary" as defined in Rule
1-02(v) of Regulation S-X [17 CFR 210.1-02(v)].
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of
our report included in this Form 10-K into the following Registration
Statements of Lafarge Corporation previously filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission: (i) Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 2-92414,
(ii) Registration Statement on Form S-8, Form 33-9813, (iii) Registration
Statement on Form S-8, File No. 33-32645, (iv) Registration Statement on Form
S-3, File No. 33-32644 (which also constitutes Post-Effective Amendment No. 6
to Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 2-82548), (v) Registration
Statement on Form S-8, File No. 33-20865, (vi) Registration Statement on Form
S-3, File No. 33-46093 (which also constitutes Post-Effective Amendment No. 7
of Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 2-82548), and (vii)
Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 33-51873.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Washington, D.C.
March 27, 1998
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> USD
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<CASH> 163,033
<SECURITIES> 155,368
<RECEIVABLES> 275,502
<ALLOWANCES> (20,782)
<INVENTORY> 209,220
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 815,968
<PP&E> 1,944,671
<DEPRECIATION> (1,067,927)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,899,057
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 295,732
<BONDS> 132,337
0
0
<COMMON> 759,609
<OTHER-SE> 496,079
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,899,057
<SALES> 1,806,351
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,806,351
<CGS> 1,335,206
<TOTAL-COSTS> 1,335,206
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 9,284
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19,949
<INCOME-PRETAX> 294,234
<INCOME-TAX> (112,258)
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 181,976
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 181,976
<EPS-PRIMARY> 2.56<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED> 2.54
<FN>
<F1>EPS-PRIMARY IS ACTUALLY EPS-BASIC
</FN>
</TABLE>
